Corporate governance and internal controls over financial reporting in Ugandan MFIs

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between corporate governance and internal controls over financial reporting (ICFR) of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Uganda.
Design/methodology/approach
This study was cross-sectional and correlational. In all, 70 Ugandan MFIs were surveyed and the data were analyzed using SPSS Version 20 to test the nine hypotheses which were put forward. The hypothesized relationships were tested using the ordinary least squares regression.

Findings
The findings based on multiple regression analysis suggest that board role performance, expertise and Association of Microfinance Institutions in Uganda (AMFIU) membership are significant predictors of the ICFR. However, board independence and separation of CEO and chairman roles are not significant predictors. The results also show that the firm-specific control variables (auditor type, size, accounting qualification and age) are also not significant.

Research limitations/implications
This study has limitations in that it is cross-sectional, thus limiting monitoring changes in behavior over time and also because the effectiveness of the ICFR was assessed using perceptions.

Practical implications
Efforts by regulators and other stakeholders to improve the ICFR must focus on the corporate governance aspects such as board expertise and ensure that the board performs its roles.

Originality/value
The paper adds to the existing literature on the corporate governance and ICFR by documenting the relationship between the corporate governance and ICFR. The study complements the previous studies on the ICFR by demonstrating that board expertise and board role performance improve the ICFR. Such evidence does not currently exist. The findings also indicate that an MFI which is a member of AMFIU was found to have better ICFR supporting self-regulation.

10.1108/JAEE-02-2016-0018

2042-1168

1-37

Nalukenge, Irene

b91d0d53-4e64-4f7e-8a51-5eb1a5747cd7

Tauringana, Venancio

27634458-b041-4bc1-94da-3e031d777e4f

Ntayi, Joseph

ffa46222-a328-4647-a916-6a1b617f7b6d

Nalukenge, Irene

b91d0d53-4e64-4f7e-8a51-5eb1a5747cd7

Tauringana, Venancio

27634458-b041-4bc1-94da-3e031d777e4f

Ntayi, Joseph

ffa46222-a328-4647-a916-6a1b617f7b6d

Nalukenge, Irene, Tauringana, Venancio and Ntayi, Joseph (2016) Corporate governance and internal controls over financial reporting in Ugandan MFIs. Journal of Accounting in Emerging Economies, 1-37. (doi:10.1108/JAEE-02-2016-0018). (In Press)

Record type: Article

Abstract

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