International Remittances Use and Development in Uganda

Predictors of a household having a member abroad, determinants of the remittance receipt status of a household, factors associated with use of remittances for development by remittance receiving households and determinants of non-consumption expenditure of remittances by remittance receiving households are investigated using the Uganda Remittances survey. Complementary log-log regression model was used. A household having migrant was determined by regional location of the household, number of rooms in the house, source of cooking and lighting fuel and education of household head. Remittance receipt status was significantly associated with region of the household, number of rooms in the house, household main source of lighting fuel and a household having at least one remittance sender abroad. Use of international remittances for development was determined by on sex of the household head, regional location of the household, house ownership status and number of rooms in the house, sex, marital status and continent of residence of the sender. Partnerships between banks and microfinance institutions should be explored by linking remittances to rural financial services

John is a faculty member in the Department of Population Studies, Makerere University and has just completed a Doctoral of Philosophy of Population Studies focusing on “Migration and Development”. His other research interests include Population Policy and development, Migration, Urbanization and Development.