In a major step toward digital inclusion, MOGO Uganda has announced that it has financed over 100,000 smartphones within only 200 days since launching its smartphone loan product in April 2025.
The milestone underscores Uganda’s growing appetite for affordable smartphone financing and highlights MOGO’s rapid rise in the country’s digital lending market. The company, a subsidiary of the Eleving Group said the achievement demonstrates how accessible financing can bridge the gap for thousands of Ugandans previously unable to afford smartphones upfront.
“Reaching 100,000 smartphones in just 200 days is proof that the demand for affordable digital access is real,” said Mikhail Vydryn, the Chief Executive Officer of MOGO Uganda. “Our goal is to make it easier for every Ugandan to own a reliable smartphone, connect to the internet, and tap into opportunities that come with it.”
From humble beginnings just 284 phones financed in April, the company saw explosive growth reaching 30,000 units by September. The pace accelerated month after month, with loan uptake surging by over 700% in May and doubling again through the following months.
Under the programme, customers can acquire a new smartphone with an initial deposit starting at Shs80,000 followed by flexible daily or weekly payments as low as Shs848 per day. The financed phones mainly from Tecno, Infinix and itel, come bundled with 3GB of free monthly data for three months through a partnership with Airtel Uganda.
The product is now available across all regions of Uganda, making smartphone ownership more achievable even in low-income and rural communities. MOGO says each financed device represents a step toward greater digital inclusion, allowing users to access mobile banking, e-learning, e-commerce and digital jobs.
Analysts note that the programme could significantly boost economic participation by enabling small traders, farmers, and youth to connect to digital platforms.
“Smartphone affordability remains one of the biggest barriers to digital transformation in Uganda. Programmes like this are helping to close that gap,” said a local ICT expert.