In Summary: The proposed interventions include affordable digital payment devices, merchant lending, bulk payment solutions and cashless applications aimed at improving business security, financial accessibility and efficiency. The discussions also build on the company’s existing partnership with Kiira Motors to facilitate cashless payments for electric bus services.
Kampala, Uganda — MTN Mobile Money is exploring partnerships with the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to expand digital financial services across Uganda’s industrial parks and other productive sectors as part of efforts to accelerate the country’s digital transformation.
The proposal was discussed during a meeting between State Minister for Privatisation and Investment Aminah Mukalazi and a delegation from MTN Mobile Money led by General Manager Phrase Lubega.
During the engagement, MTN Mobile Money General Manager for Regional Operations Keith Tukei said the company was willing to support the digitisation of industrial parks through cashless payment solutions and other digital financial services.
Tukei highlighted the company’s existing partnership with Kiira Motors, through which MTN Mobile Money provides cashless payment services for electric buses, describing it as an example of how digital financial solutions could support business operations and service delivery.
He expressed interest in extending similar partnerships to industrial parks and businesses involved in artisan activities, agro-industrialisation, mineral extraction and other sectors.
The proposed interventions would include digital payment solutions and merchant lending services to help businesses manage transactions and access financing.
MTN Mobile Money Enterprise Segment Manager Justine Icabala Ziruba told the Minister that the company had already visited several industrial parks to promote the adoption of a cashless economy. She said the proposed support would include providing digital payment devices and SIM cards at affordable rates, with payment arrangements spread across manageable instalments.
The devices would come with cashless applications pre-installed to enable businesses and merchants to receive digital payments more conveniently.
Ziruba said the approach would also improve security by reducing the need for business operators and workers to carry physical cash.
She further highlighted the company’s services, including free withdrawal charges for transactions of Shs300,000 and below, as well as bulk payment solutions that operate across different mobile money networks.
Minister Mukalazi welcomed the engagement and commended MTN Mobile Money for its contribution to digital financial services and the public trust it has built. She recognised the company’s collaboration with Kiira Motors on cashless payments for electric buses, alongside initiatives such as Code Yo and Mali Yo, which target boda boda riders.
The Minister encouraged MTN Mobile Money to extend similar digital solutions to taxi operators and other players in the transport sector to improve payment convenience and financial inclusion.
However, Mukalazi emphasised the need to build public confidence in digital financial services, particularly among farmers, market vendors and other players in the agricultural value chain.
In response, the MTN delegation said it was already engaging these groups to understand their needs and develop financial solutions suited to their businesses.
The Minister also encouraged the company to bring farmers’ cooperatives on board, noting that wider adoption of digital financial services could reduce delays in processing farmers’ financial transactions and improve access to financial services.
She further welcomed the provision for reversing erroneous mobile money transactions, describing such safeguards as important in strengthening customer confidence and encouraging wider adoption of cashless payments.
The discussions centred on expanding digital payments, improving access to financial services, strengthening transaction security and supporting businesses and investments across Uganda.
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