Investment Practices and Household Income among Small-Scale Women Entrepreneurs in Bwera Sub-County, Kasese District, Uganda

This study examined the relationship between investment practices and household income among small-scale women entrepreneurs in Bwera Sub-County, Kasese District, Uganda. A cross-sectional correlational design was adopted, and quantitative data were collected using structured questionnaires from 98 women traders selected through simple random sampling. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, and simple linear regression. The investment-practices scale had a content validity index of 0.710 and a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.800. Investment practices were positively and significantly correlated with household income (r = .658, p < .01). Regression analysis showed that investment practices were a statistically significant predictor of household income (B = 0.520, β = .658, p < .001), accounting for 43.3% of the variation in household income (R² = .433). Using professional advice or tools to inform investment decisions recorded the highest mean score (M = 3.85, SD = 1.213), while researching and understanding investment risks recorded the lowest (M = 3.26, SD = 1.349). These findings indicate that stronger investment practices were associated with higher household income, although the cross-sectional design and lack of control for other potential determinants preclude causal conclusions. The study recommends practical investment education, strengthened risk-assessment skills, and improved access to reliable financial advice to support informed investment decisions among women entrepreneurs.