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Uganda Fintech Weekly Buzz, Volume 35 (13 - 18 September 2026)

Daniel Tusiimukye

daniel@fitspa.ug

Sep 18, 2026

Pearl Bank Deepens Digital and Development Banking Drive as Loan Book Crosses UGX1 Trillion

Pearl Bank Uganda has reaffirmed its ambition to become a leading indigenous, digitally driven and impact-focused financial institution as its loan book surpasses UGX1 trillion. The bank says it is expanding lending to productive sectors, strengthening financial inclusion and using digital banking to support Uganda’s broader economic transformation agenda. Managing Director Julius Kakeeto said the rebrand from PostBank Uganda was an important step in strengthening the bank’s national identity and competitiveness.

COSASE Piles Pressure on BoU Over Shs140 Billion Habba Guarantee

Parliament’s COSASE has questioned Bank of Uganda over a Shs140.487 billion guarantee issued to Habba Group that has remained outstanding since 2017. BoU Head of Legal Dorothy Masifa Ochola told the committee that the guarantee was issued following instructions from the Ministry of Finance and that the bank has been consulting government and external lawyers on possible recovery options, including court action. MPs raised concerns over the lack of direct recovery action, noting that no security had been obtained from Habba Group and no court case had been filed nearly nine years after the exposure arose.

Digital Democracy in Focus as Uganda Law Society Hosts Second Tech Fest

The Uganda Law Society - LAP has opened its second Digital Transformation Festival 2026, bringing together lawyers, judges and technology experts to examine how technology can improve access to justice and strengthen ethical governance. Discussions are focusing on responsible adoption of emerging technologies, cybersecurity and the need to ensure that digital transformation does not widen existing gaps in access to justice.

Ecobank Uganda Launches Digital Merchant Cash Advance of Up to Shs70 Million

Ecobank Uganda has introduced its Electronic Merchant Cash Advance (eMCA), a digital lending solution offering eligible merchants collateral-free working capital of up to Shs70 million. The facility uses merchants’ transaction histories rather than physical assets to assess access to credit, with businesses that process payments through Ecobank POS terminals, web and QR channels eligible to apply after building at least three months of transaction history.

Equity Trade Mission Puts Uganda’s Investment Potential in Spotlight

More than 150 business leaders, investors, policymakers and private-sector representatives from 10 countries have gathered in Kampala for the 2026 Uganda Trade and Investment Roadshow. Organised by Equity Group, the mission is connecting Ugandan businesses with potential investors and partners across agriculture, manufacturing, mining, technology and the coffee value chain, with discussions also focusing on value addition and strengthening local enterprises.

Verto CEO Explains Why Compliance is Becoming Fintech’s Competitive Edge in Africa

Africa’s growing cross-border payments market is facing increasing complexity as fintechs navigate different currencies, banking systems, foreign-exchange requirements and regulatory frameworks. Verto CEO Tayo Oviosu highlights how recent decisions by international payment providers to restrict services in some African markets have reinforced the importance of compliance and strong regulatory relationships, while emerging technologies such as stablecoins introduce new opportunities and regulatory questions.

Kenya’s High Court Voids Vodacom’s $1.5 Billion Safaricom Takeover

Kenya’s High Court has nullified the sale of a 15% government stake in Safaricom to Vodacom Group Ltd / ADR, putting the KES204.3 billion transaction at risk. A three-judge bench ruled that the sale was unconstitutional, finding that key information about the transaction had not been adequately disclosed to the public, Cabinet and Parliament, and ordered the stake to be returned to the government.

Madica Invests $200,000 in Five African Startups, Enters Algeria and Cameroon

Africa-focused pre-seed investment programme Madica has invested $200,000 each in five startups, including its first investments in Algeria and Cameroon. The founders will also participate in an 18-month programme offering mentorship, executive coaching, immersion trips and access to Madica’s investor network, taking the programme’s portfolio to 18 companies across 10 African markets.

Kenyan Travel-Booking Startup BuuPass Taps SafariBucks for Cross-Border Travel Payments

Kenyan travel-booking platform BuuPass - Bus, Train & Flight bookings is partnering with digital wallet SafariBucks to introduce cross-border payments for buses, flights and transfers. The partnership will allow transactions to be settled through local payment rails, while SafariBucks’ spend-management tools will also integrate with BuuPass’ corporate travel platform to support payments and expense management across multiple currencies.

MTN Controls 55% of Nigeria’s Fibre Market, but the Overall Sector Remains Tiny

MTN Nigeria accounted for 55.2% of Nigeria’s 319,735 fibre-to-the-x connections as of June 2026, with its fibre subscriber base nearly doubling since January. Despite this growth, fibre remains a small part of Nigeria’s overall internet market, with 156.4 million mobile internet subscribers compared with fewer than 320,000 fibre connections, highlighting the continued dominance of mobile connectivity.

Ericsson Launches NetCloud Private for Secure, Customer-Controlled Wireless WAN Management

Ericsson has launched NetCloud Private, a wireless WAN management solution designed to allow organisations to host network-management and telemetry data within their own environments. The offering targets government agencies, critical infrastructure operators and other regulated organisations that require greater control over connectivity, data governance and network operations while managing 5G and wireless infrastructure.

Network International and Mastercard Move Expand Digital Money Transfers in Jordan

Network International and Mastercard Move are partnering to expand domestic and international digital money movement in Jordan. The collaboration will allow participating banks, fintechs and payment providers to transfer funds through a single connection, supporting near-real-time movement between cards, bank accounts and eligible digital accounts.

Vodafone Warns Network Shutdowns Hit Record Levels as Economic Cost Nears $20 Billion

A new Vodafone report highlights the growing frequency and economic impact of deliberate internet and network shutdowns globally. Data cited in the report shows at least 313 shutdowns across 52 countries in 2025, affecting around 800 million people, while the estimated global economic cost of major shutdown events approached $20 billion.

Airtel SmartWasomi Expands Digital Learning at Tanzania School

Airtel Africa Foundation, through Airtel Tanzania, is supporting digital learning at Temeke Secondary School through the SmartWasomi programme. Implemented with UNICEF and the Tanzania Institute of Education, the initiative is providing students and teachers with greater access to digital learning resources while promoting technology skills, creativity and collaboration in the classroom.

Afreximbank Extends $10 Million Facility to Azania Bank to Support Tanzanian SMEs

Afreximbank Research has provided a $10 million financing facility to Azania Bank Plc to expand access to finance for Tanzanian SMEs involved in export-oriented activities. Under the Export SME Development Programme, the funding will support working capital, business expansion, asset acquisition and pre- and post-export operations across sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, technology, logistics and trade.

MTN MoMo and FNB Zambia Launch Cardless ATM Cash Out Service

MTN MoMo Zambia and FNB Zambia have launched an ATM Cash Out service allowing customers to withdraw money directly from their MoMo wallets at FNB ATMs without a bank card or FNB account. The service builds on their existing partnership and strengthens the connection between mobile money and traditional banking by giving customers another way to access their funds.

The Push to Connect Africa’s Startups Is Getting $63 Million and an AI Platform

African startup support organisation 22 On Sloane has launched KUMii, an AI-powered platform designed to help startups and small businesses navigate Africa’s fragmented funding, markets, mentorship and business-support ecosystem. Alongside the platform, the organisation is raising R1 billion, approximately $63 million, through Sloane Capital to invest in startups and MSMEs across the continent.

Sierra Leone Launches Nationwide Campaign to Combat AI Deepfakes

Sierra Leone has launched a nationwide campaign to help citizens identify, verify and report AI-generated deepfakes and manipulated content. The programme will cover all 16 districts and includes community workshops, radio and television awareness efforts, as well as planned tools such as a WhatsApp verification service and low-bandwidth application for checking suspicious content.

South Africa’s $21.5 Billion SME Funding Gap Is Really a Data Problem

South Africa’s MSMEs face an estimated R350 billion ($21.5 billion) financing gap even as the number of small-business funders has more than doubled since 2018. The article highlights data accessibility and the ability of financial institutions to accurately understand businesses as key challenges affecting credit assessment, suggesting that better business data could help lenders identify and serve more SMEs.