Determinants of income levels among households in Tirinyi sub-county Kibuku district.

Abstract

Most rural households find it difficult to finance their operations, including their other income- generating activities, owing to their limited and irregular income. Low household incomes threaten to derail the achievement of the UN SDG’s as well as Uganda’s Vision 2030. There is no single pathway towards improving household income because social and economic fundamentals vary from one region to another. This study aimed to find out the Determinants of income levels among households in Tirinyi sub county, Kibuku county. The study adopted a descriptive research design and focused on target population of 5846 households in the ward. Questionnaires schedules were administered to a sample of 361 respondents selected among rural households in the ward. Households were stratified by distance from the nearest urban centre and selected using stratified proportionate random sampling. The adult respondents, who were the heads of household, were selected purposively and the research tools administered. The primary data and personal observations were quantified and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS Version 21.0). Descriptive statistics, such as frequencies, percentages, mean score and standard deviations was used for analysis of all quantitative variables. Multiple regression analysis was used to establish the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. The results were presented in form of tables. The study concluded that household demographic characteristics influenced household income in kibuku County assembly ward in Tirinyi. Finally, the study concludes that social cultural determinants influence household income to moderate extents. The study found that 73.4% of the independent variables influenced the dependent variable, household income. The study recommends that different stakeholders in Kibuku county assembly ward should consider household demographic characteristics when determining household income in Tirinyi Sub County. Farmers should be encouraged to utilize their farm and farming resources accordingly so as to earn more benefit from farming. Concerning institutional infrastructure, the study recommends that government should increase investment in rural road infrastructure, telecommunication and water supply (especially irrigation schemes) and strengthen government capacity to combat natural calamities particularly in areas prone to drought and floods.