For refugees in Uganda's camps, accessing financial services has long been a challenge. With limited access to banks and other financial institutions, many have been forced to rely on informal networks and cash transactions. But now, mobile money is changing the game, providing refugees with a powerful tool for financial inclusion.
Mobile money is a digital payment system that allows users to store and transfer money using their mobile phones. In Uganda, this technology has become a lifeline for refugees, providing them with a safe, secure, and accessible way to manage their finances.
One of the key players in this mobile money revolution is MTN Uganda, a mobile network operator that has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to provide financial services to refugees in the country. Through this partnership, refugees can open mobile money accounts, which they can use to receive and send money, pay bills, and access other financial services.
According to MTN Uganda, more than 1.4 million refugees and host community members have now registered for mobile money services, with over $1 billion in transactions processed in 2020 alone. This has not only provided refugees with greater financial security, but has also helped to boost local economies, by enabling refugees to buy goods and services from local businesses.
For aid workers in the camps, the impact of mobile money has been profound. "It's really transformed the way we work with refugees," says Sarah Kim, a field officer with UNHCR. "Now, we can provide cash assistance directly to refugees' mobile money accounts, which is faster, cheaper, and more secure than other forms of aid delivery."
Mobile money has also enabled refugees to connect with their families and communities, even when they are separated by distance. By using mobile money to send and receive money, refugees can provide financial support to their loved ones, and maintain important social and economic ties.
As MTN Uganda CEO Wim Vanhelleputte puts it, "Mobile money has the power to transform lives and communities, and to bring financial inclusion to those who need it most. We are proud to be part of this effort, and to work with our partners to make a difference in the lives of refugees and host communities in Uganda."
In a world where financial inclusion is still a challenge for millions of people, mobile money offers a glimmer of hope. For refugees in Uganda's camps, it is providing a path to greater security, resilience, and opportunity, and helping to build a brighter future for themselves and their families
