By Maria Mariam Namala
KAMPALA — Watu Simu has announced that it has financed one million smartphones in Uganda, marking a significant milestone just three years after introducing its smartphone financing programme in 2023.
The achievement was celebrated during an event held at Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in Kampala, where company officials and partners highlighted the growing role of affordable smartphone financing in expanding digital access and financial inclusion.
Speaking at the event, Mykyta Batenko, Head of Smartphone Financing at Watu Uganda, said the milestone reflects the company’s commitment to making smartphones accessible to more Ugandans through flexible financing options.
He noted that the company reached its first 500,000 financed smartphones in 2025 and doubled that number in less than a year. More than 250,000 devices were financed during the first half of 2026 alone.
According to Batenko, smartphones have become essential tools that enable people to work, study, access financial services, communicate and grow their businesses. He said the one-million mark represents not only devices financed but also expanded opportunities for individuals and communities.
Looking ahead, he said Watu aims to reach another one million customers in an even shorter period by extending its services to more communities, strengthening partnerships and improving the customer experience.
Watu East Africa General Manager Android Volkha reflected on the company’s growth since it entered the Ugandan market in 2019 through motorcycle financing before diversifying into smartphone financing.
He said the business has grown from a small operation into one serving hundreds of thousands of customers, noting that women now account for more than 40 percent of the company’s client base. Many of them, he said, are using financed assets to establish businesses, support their families and improve their livelihoods.
Representing the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Rachel Nakawooya, Assistant Commissioner for Microfinance Regulation, welcomed the milestone but observed that smartphone ownership remains relatively low despite widespread mobile network coverage.
She said only about one-third of Ugandans currently own smartphones, limiting access to digital financial services and other online opportunities. Nakawooya called for measures such as reducing import taxes on smartphones to make the devices more affordable for low-income households.
She also encouraged Watu to continue expanding access while maintaining strong standards for consumer protection, particularly in safeguarding customer information as its client base continues to grow.
Japhet Aritho, Managing Director of Airtel Money Uganda, said the partnership between Airtel and Watu demonstrates the importance of collaboration in promoting digital inclusion.
He explained that affordable smartphones must be complemented by reliable internet connectivity and digital payment systems to maximise their impact on people’s lives. Aritho added that Watu has become one of Airtel Money Uganda’s key partners in advancing digital financial services.
Meanwhile, Moses Kutetsa Buye, Country Manager for Samsung Uganda, said the collaboration with Watu has helped make modern smartphone technology more accessible to ordinary Ugandans.
He noted that smartphones are now essential tools for communication, education, navigation, mobile banking, entrepreneurship and access to a wide range of digital services.
As Uganda continues to expand mobile and internet connectivity, stakeholders at the event emphasized that improving access to affordable smartphones will remain critical to promoting financial inclusion, economic growth and broader participation in the country’s digital economy.