MTN Mobile Money (Momo) has unveiled a new cross-border payment feature, allowing Ugandans to make seamless transactions beyond national borders, while also rewarding customers through an incentive campaign.
Branded under the theme “Power to Be Borderless,” the service now enables Momo users in Uganda to pay merchants directly in Tanzania through M-Pesa, and to transact with partners such as Dubai Duty Free. The launch marks a major step in MTN’s strategy to deepen regional financial inclusion.
To promote uptake, MTN Momo has introduced a reward scheme for customers sending or receiving international remittances. Users stand a chance to win all-expenses-paid trips, while recipients in Uganda may walk away with UGX 200,000 shopping vouchers, gift hampers, and other prizes. Winners will be announced via MTN’s official platforms.
Keith Tukei, Chief Commercial Officer for MTN Momo, said the service aims to bridge gaps for individuals and businesses with regional connections. “We are giving Ugandans the confidence to connect with loved ones and opportunities across borders, without the usual hurdles,” he explained.
Shamim Fatumah Kavuma, Momo’s Manager of Remittances and Interoperability, emphasised the benefits for small traders who regularly move goods across borders. She noted that the new feature reduces friction and makes cross-border commerce more convenient.
Adding to this, Dennis Kakonge, General Manager of Services and Company Secretary at MTN, pointed out that customers no longer need to carry foreign currency to shop abroad. “This service makes international transactions as simple as a local purchase,” he said.
With more than 13.6 million subscribers, over 212,000 agents and 100,000 merchants across Uganda, MTN Momo remains the country’s largest mobile money platform. The company also cautioned customers to stay alert against fraud, reminding them that MTN never requests payments before releasing prizes.
Industry observers say the new service could significantly ease trade, travel and family remittances, reinforcing Momo’s role as a driver of financial inclusion in East Africa.