FinScope Uganda is a nationwide survey of the demand and use of financial services in Uganda. It was implemented with financial and technical support from the UK Department for International Development’s (DFID’s) Financial Sector Deepening Project (FSDU). In examining the use of financial services, the survey focused on areas of particular interest to Ugandan stakeholders, including consumer issues, agricultural finance, and the informal sector.

The specific objectives of FinScope Uganda are to: 1) improve understanding of the demand and uses of financial services; 2) provide a comprehensive credible baseline database on the demand and uses of financial services, especially with regard to their determinants; 3) create a benchmark for similar surveys to be conducted in future on a regular basis; 4) inform policy design and implementation for expanding access to financial services to the majority of Ugandans; and 5) guide private and public sector investment in sustainable provision of financial services.

Dissemination, institutionalization, and future studies are coordinated by a Steering Committee made up of The Bank of Uganda, the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, donors, and key financial institutions.

Field work and initial analysis were carried out by the Steadman Group, which has also been contracted to help in dissemination of the findings. Sample design and selection, and weighting of the results, were carried out by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics. FinMark Trust provided valuable technical support at key moments in the process, including questionnaire design, quality control, dissemination, and other areas.