Entrepreneurial resources and performance of small and medium enterprises of persons with disabilities in Kampala

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine how entrepreneurial resources influence the performance of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) owned by persons with disabilities in Kampala city. Specifically, it sought to establish how entrepreneurial knowledge, entrepreneurial networks, and operational costs affect Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) performance. In addition, the study examined the mediating role of intrapreneurship in the relationship between entrepreneurial resources and SME performance. Kampala, as Uganda’s commercial and economic hub, hosts a wide variety of SMEs owned by persons with disabilities across sectors such as retail, services, technology, and manufacturing, making it an ideal context for the study. A quantitative, cross-sectional, explanatory research design was adopted. The sample population was determined based on feasibility, accessibility, and research guidance, targeting entrepreneurs with disabilities across various business sectors within Kampala. A statistical power model was used to determine the sample size, ensuring adequate representation and analytical reliability. Following stratification, participants were selected from each sector using purposive sampling to improve representativeness. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaires and analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Descriptive statistics summarized demographic characteristics and key variables, while correlation and regression analyses examined relationships between entrepreneurial resources and SME performance. Key findings showed that more men with disabilities are actively carrying out business than women with disabilities, though this does not mean that women with disabilities are not operating businesses. Only a small proportion of the enterprises were formally registered, and many participants indicated that they did not know how to register their businesses. The findings also suggest that entrepreneurship among persons with disabilities was most common among middle-aged individuals. This study makes several original contributions. While prior research has largely focused on developed economies, this study provides empirical evidence from Uganda, focusing on SMEs owned by persons with disabilities. It further advances theory by introducing intrapreneurship as a mediating variable and demonstrates methodological originality through purposive sampling within stratified sectors.