Airtel Uganda, through its mobile financial services arm Airtel Money, has partnered with FINCA Uganda to introduce Easy Float, a new loan product that gives Airtel Money agents fast and flexible access to working capital.
The innovation enables agents to seamlessly top up their float balances whenever they run low, ensuring consistent and uninterrupted service for customers across the country.
The launch event, held at Fairway Hotel in Kampala, was hailed as a major step toward enhancing financial inclusion and strengthening Uganda’s digital financial ecosystem.
Speaking at the event, Japheth Aritho, Managing Director of Airtel Money Uganda, said the Easy Float product addresses one of the most persistent challenges among mobile money agents — float liquidity.
“Many of us have approached agents for transactions only to be told they’ve run out of float. That has now ended,” Aritho said.
“If an agent is depositing Shs 20,000 for a customer but the float is short by Shs 5,000, they can instantly access a top-up through the Easy Float loan. The transaction will be completed quickly, and our agents will no longer face float outages.”
Aritho added that the initiative will empower Airtel Money’s network of more than 324,000 agents, many of whom are young entrepreneurs, enabling them to expand their businesses, boost earnings, and support broader economic growth.
Robert Kakande, Executive Director of FINCA Uganda, commended the partnership, describing it as a powerful collaboration in advancing digital finance and micro-entrepreneur empowerment.
“Our partnership with Airtel Money is a vital step in expanding digital financial access across Uganda,” Kakande said. “By providing essential working capital through the Easy Float platform, we are empowering thousands of micro-entrepreneurs to sustain their businesses, better serve their communities, and contribute meaningfully to Uganda’s economic growth.”
He noted that repayment terms are flexible, with deductions made automatically from each agent’s monthly commissions — making the service both convenient and sustainable.
The Easy Float initiative comes at a time when many agents have been grappling with float shortages caused by high transaction volumes, which often interrupt customer service. The product ensures liquidity stability and operational continuity in Uganda’s fast-growing mobile money sector.
According to the Bank of Uganda, the country’s mobile money market continues to expand steadily, currently valued at USD 133 billion and projected to reach USD 1.15 trillion by 2033 — underscoring the growing relevance of such digital financial innovations
