Institutional framing for entrepreneurship in sub‐Saharan Africa: a case of Uganda

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to examine institutional framing for entrepreneurship in a sub-Saharan context and provide policy input required in solving the daunting problem of the existing low levels and high failure rate of business start-ups in Uganda. Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected from a sample of 659 SMEs from two districts of Uganda in Jinja and Mukono which were scientifically selected for this study. Appropriate analytical data techniques were applied. Findings – Results reveal the presence of implicit regulative, explicit regulative, constitutive cognitive and normative institutions which affect entrepreneurial activities in Uganda. These findings and their policy implications are fully discussed in the paper. Originality/value – This research parallels the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2004 study that reports high total entrepreneurship activity (TEA) from Uganda and presents the importance of understanding the institutional framing for entrepreneurship. There is a paucity of research addressing institutional framing for entrepreneurship from a sub-Saharan context, creating a need to study and systematically document the prevailing supporting institutions as a framework for promoting entrepreneurship in Uganda.