By Spy Uganda
Kampala: Airtel Uganda has been recognized and awarded for its continuous innovation under the Airtel Money services that have accelerated financial inclusion in Uganda.
Airtel Uganda scooped the 2021 FinTech Innovation Award at the prestigious 18th Annual East Africa Com Virtual Awards, 2021 Awards ceremony held last week in Nairobi, Kenya together with Comviva, a global leader in mobile solutions offering digital value-added service, mobile finance, and customer management solutions for telecom operators.
According to East Africa Com, the awards organizer, the Fintech Innovation Award honors top companies and products leading in Financial Technology (FinTech) innovations in East Africa.
Airtel Money is one of Uganda’s top financial inclusion drivers that enable mobile phone subscribers, especially the financially underserved population, to transact in the digital economy as well as borrowing credit to its users.
Powered by Comviva’s mobiquity platform, Airtel Money provides a mobile wallet to consumers linked to their Airtel mobile number, allowing them to transfer money, get loans and make payments instantly, easily, and securely, anytime, anywhere which can be accessed via USSD *185# or mobile App, ‘My Airtel App.’
Andrew Rugamba, the Airtel Money Director at Airtel Uganda while receiving the award noted that this milestone has been achieved through hard work and continuous investment for its customers.
“We are very excited about winning the 2021 Fintech Innovation Award. This win is a result of hard work and continued investment in tech-driven reliable and affordable innovative solutions aimed at giving our customers the desired experience as they transact using a wide range of products and services we offer.” Rugamba said
“As Airtel Uganda, we pride in being a financial service partner our customers can trust as they send and receive money using safe, secure, and affordable Airtel money services,” he added
The increased demand for cashless transactions has spiraled a steady growth of the mobile financial services in Uganda. According to the Uganda Communications Commission 2020 4th Quarter Market Performance Report, active mobile cash transaction wallets increased to 22.5 million between October and December 2020 from 20.9 million in Q1 2020, demonstrating the fast growth in uptake of mobile cash transactions in Uganda.
During the same period, active mobile agents increased from 227,736 in September 2020 to 235,790 agents in December 2020, to support increasing demand in mobile cash transaction services.
With over 18 years of celebrating pioneering individuals and companies in the region, in addition to hosting the largest event on the continent, the coveted East Africa Com Awards identify leaders in the tech and telecommunications market in East Africa for their outstanding performance.
Other winners of the East Africa Com Virtual Awards 2021 edition included; John Kamara, Co –Fonder 0f Afyarekod, who took home the Inspiring Leader of the year Award, Imelda Nguzu H&D Markets won the Female Innovator of the Year Award, whereas Beem was named Connectivity Champion, among others.
The awards target telecommunication operators, leading technology platforms, hardware vendors, connectivity providers, startups, philanthropists, and technology companies driving progress.
