Towards Real Estate Investment Trusts for Agricultural financing: Readiness of Real Estate Investment Trust Connected Parties in Uganda

Abstract

Despite several developing economies enacting REIT regulations, REITs are still underutilised as an alternative vehicle to address the current real estate financing challenges especially for non-traditional real estate asset classes such as agricultural real estate. The limited research on the application of REIT for financing agricultural real estate further complicates the situation. Thus, an inquiry into the readiness of REIT connected parties as stipulated by the regulation for the implementation and facilitation of REITs is vital. The study aims to explore the readiness of REIT connected parties towards the implementation and facilitation of REIT for agricultural financing in Uganda. The study employs a qualitative phenomenological study approach to describe the readiness of connected parties through their lived practice experiences. Data collection is conducted by interviewing a purposively selected sample of potential REIT connected parties based on their involvement in the finance and investment sector. Knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA) themes are analysed from the interview notes and the connected parties` readiness gaps are discussed in the discussions.