MTN Uganda, Trade ministry partner to accelerate digital trade

MTN Uganda and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives have agreed to explore partnerships aimed at accelerating the digitisation of trade and expanding the use of mobile money among cooperatives and small businesses.

The commitment was made during a meeting on July 7 between Trade Minister Sanjay Tanna and an MTN Uganda delegation led by the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Sylvia Mulinge.

Mulinge said MTN was keen to work with the ministry to help cooperatives, particularly Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations (SACCOs), adopt digital payment platforms to improve efficiency, accountability and transparency in financial transactions.

She said wider adoption of mobile money would also enhance the traceability of funds, including government disbursements to cooperatives across the country.

“MTN desires a strong collaboration with the Ministry of Trade to drive the digitisation of trade. Our network covers the entire country, enabling Ugandans to conduct business wherever they are,” Mulinge said.

The meeting also discussed possible support for MTN mobile money agents affected by recent changes in the organisation of urban trade, including helping them relocate to formal business premises.

Tanna welcomed the proposed partnership, saying the ministry would work with MTN to increase mobile money adoption among small-scale traders and market vendors.

He said expanding digital payments would support Uganda’s transition towards a cashless economy while improving accountability in the distribution of public funds.

“The use of mobile money in business is a step towards achieving a cashless economy. It also makes it easier to track government funds disbursed to different groups and ensure they reach the intended beneficiaries,” Tanna said.

He added that the ministry would also partner with MTN to promote financial literacy among small traders to enable them to make better use of digital financial services.