By Catherine Alungur
If you spend enough time in boardrooms, tech forums, or even on X (formerly Twitter), you’ve probably heard this question thrown around: Is USSD still relevant in 2025?
It’s a fair question in an era where fintech apps, QR codes, and contactless payments seem to dominate conversations about the future of money.
But like many things in Africa’s digital evolution, the story is more nuanced.
In Uganda, where smartphone penetration remains below 30%, USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) continues to be the unsung hero of financial inclusion.
It’s accessible on any phone, doesn’t require internet, or any fancy hardware. Just a simple code. And yet, the narrative persists: that USSD is outdated, clunky, and slowly on its way out.
And maybe that’s understandable. The rise of sleek fintech apps and mobile-first solutions somewhat paints a compelling picture of progress. Consider the numbers: mobile internet adoption is climbing, more Ugandans are downloading apps, and the user experience they get from apps is light-years ahead of the star-hash days.
But here’s the twist: what if USSD isn’t dying — just maturing?
In reality, many Ugandans use both. They’ll dial USSD for quick airtime or urgent transfers on the go, then later, when they’re on Wi-Fi or have data, open their apps to track spending or pay a utility bill. It’s not a binary. It’s a blend. This layered behavior points to a larger insight: financial platforms don’t compete in silos. They co-exist. And they should be designed to do just that.
Which brings us to a telling example: the MyAirtel App, now boasting over 1.3 million active users. This is a milestone that reflects Uganda’s growing digital appetite and Airtel’s push toward smarter and simpler user experiences. From transaction histories to repeat actions, smart utilities, and integrated financial services, the app has become a go-to tool for smartphone users.
So yes, it’s easy to look at numbers like that and assume that USSD’s days are numbered, but that would be missing the point. The future isn’t about apps replacing USSD. It’s about ecosystems that meet people where they are , be it a basic phone in Soroti or an iPhone in Kololo. The winners in this space will be the ones who don’t force a choice between old and new, but build bridges between both.
Maybe the question isn’t “Is USSD dying?” Maybe it’s “What if USSD is just getting started?”
The author is the Head Pricing and Marketing – Airtel Enterprise Business Department.
