Entrepreneurial bricolage in practice: an exploratory qualitative Inquiry among Ugandan microentrepreneurs

This paper explores how microentrepreneurs interpret and enact entrepreneurial bricolage in Uganda’s resource-constrained environment. An exploratory qualitative design was employed, using semi-structured interviews with 40 microentrepreneurs in Kampala District. Data were thematically analyzed using NVivo 10 to identify recurring patterns and meanings associated with entrepreneurial bricolage. The findings show that entrepreneurial bricolage is a multidimensional adaptive capacity rather than simply the improvised use of available resources. Four interconnected practices emerged: (i) creatively recombining available resources to overcome constraints; (ii) mobilizing trust-based customer–supplier networks for information, credit, and market access; (iii) using customer feedback to support learning, improvement, and retention; and (iv) leveraging digital and social networks to identify opportunities, collaborate, and expand markets. The study is limited to microentrepreneurs in Kampala District, which may constrain the transferability of findings to other Ugandan regions and institutional contexts. The findings suggest that microentrepreneurs can enhance resilience and reduce costs by creatively using available resources, including tools and family labor, while strengthening customer–supplier relationships based on trust and reciprocity. Digital networking and collaborative partnerships can further support knowledge sharing and market expansion. The study contributes original evidence positioning entrepreneurial bricolage as a process of resource recombination, networking, learning, and opportunity exploitation under resource constraints.