One of the rarest commodities in the world of digital business is called trust. Everyone is afraid of another either because of past experiences with fraud or stories regarding the same. When it comes to the car business, the odds of getting exactly what you ordered online are very minimal, especially in Africa. It is […]
Almost every day, there is a concert, show, or festival happening somewhere in Uganda. The majority of the partygoers mention access to tickets as a major pain point for attending these shows. For others, it is fraud involved in ticket printing. Many at a time you go to an event only to be told that […]
If you have ever taken a boda boda ride, then you certainly know the inconvenience that comes with finding change in case you have a denomination higher than the agreed fare. Even Boda Boda riders and cab drivers agree that it is one of their worst nightmares, especially if riding at night. “We often take […]
In 2020, members of SAO Zirobwe Sacco in Luweero district were introduced to something ‘alien’. They were told that there was an electronic platform for them to deposit, save, withdraw or get a loan digitally. They just needed to download an Application on their phone or dial a given USSD number and start transacting. “Sincerely […]
Imagine being a student with a personal assistant who can do research for you, prepare notes and even remind you of your to-do coursework. Well, it has been made digitally possible. Some innovative young Ugandans have come up with the Academic Personal Assistant (AIDA) platform which helps students to get all the required information from […]
Gloria Okwakunda is a very happy and contented woman. She is happy because of her reliable companion. “My companion is PayLater. Ever since I joined this amazing service, my life has been smooth,” she says with a smile. PayLater is an online hire purchase platform where people acquire products or travel and pay in equal […]
In March 2020, Uganda was placed under a total lockdown following the outbreak of the deadly Covid-19. Only essential workers such as security personnel, market vendors, and construction workers were allowed to continue working. One such essential worker was Sarah Naluwagga Lubambula, a vendor at Kalerwe Market in Kampala. But Naluwagga says despite this allowance, […]
In many parts of rural Uganda, accessing a bank is almost impossible. Even when you chance on one, the red tape involved in accessing credit is unbelievable, especially in agricultural financing. So, farmers usually rely on SACCOs and money lenders to survive. Most of these however come with high interest rates and they never supplement […]
When the world was invaded by Covid-19 in 2020, global economies were brought to their knees. At a personal level, many individuals were left in survival mode, barely managing to feed their families. Education was not saved too. Learners were forced to study remotely in bits and when schools were re-opened parents were required to […]
Building and construction is a tricky business, mostly because contracts in this sector are usually post-paid. This means that one has to primarily foot the bill for construction materials and wages. At the end of the day, many construction companies incur high-interest loans that conversely affect their profits. James Andrew Mukuye was going through this […]
Market access is one of the biggest challenges for businesses in Uganda, especially in the informal sector. Many highly depend on word-of-mouth references because they lack resources for proper marketing. Some fail to breakeven and close shop while others stagnate at a small-scale level. It is estimated that Uganda has more than 2.5 million formal […]
One of the biggest business challenges is accountability. For instance, it is almost impossible for any organization to determine how much airtime or fuel was used by a field staff in a given month. This is because the field staff usually pay out of pocket and claim the money later without proper proof. But this […]
Kampala, Uganda. We are happy to announce that registration for the fourth edition of the HiPipo 40 Days 40 FinTechs has opened. Without a doubt, the HiPipo 40 Days 40 FinTechs initiative has put the Innovation and Financial Inclusion bar very high; particularly showcasing both the time and lifesaving abilities of Financial Technology. Although the […]
Written by Innocent Kawooya In their paper titled “Advances in Real Time: Challenges and Solutions in Interoperable Payment Systems,” Kosta Peric, Miller Abel, and Matt Bohan discuss the complexity of dealing with cash. I refer to this paper when discussing elements like interoperability, Level One Project (L1P), and Instant Inclusive Payment Systems (IIPS) that are […]
We are excited to share with you the Women In FinTech Magazine—January 2023 edition. A magazine that is solely dedicated to Women In FinTech. These women have set an example for other women to follow. The #WomenInFinTech magazine increases the visibility of female leaders in the field and strengthens their connections to other participants. It also […]