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Uganda Mobile Money Charges

MTN, Airtel, Wave - including all government levies. Updated July 2026.

How much does it cost to send money via mobile money in Uganda?

In Uganda, mobile money fees vary by operator (MTN, Airtel, Wave) and amount band. Use the calculator below for the exact cost in UGX, including government levies. Typical fees range from flat unit amounts to a percentage of the transfer; withdrawals usually add a separate charge.

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Provider

Amount

UGXUGX

Compare MTN, Airtel, Wave fees in Uganda

Provider	Send	Withdraw	Levy	Total
MTNMTN	Check with provider	UGX1,500.00	None	—
AIRAirtelCheapest	Free	UGX2,200.00	None	Free
WAVWave	UGX500.00	Free	None	UGX500.00

Fees shown for UGX50,000 UGX. Use the calculator above for your exact amount.

Which mobile money providers work in Uganda?

MTN

MTN MoMo

Uganda · UGX

Send money fees

Check with provider - tariff not published

Withdrawal fees

UGX500-UGX2,500	UGX330
UGX2,501-UGX5,000	UGX440
UGX5,001-UGX15,000	UGX700
UGX15,001-UGX30,000	UGX880

View full fee table →

AIR

Airtel Money

Uganda · UGX

Send money fees

UGX125,001-UGX250,000	UGX1,500
UGX250,001-UGX500,000	UGX1,700
UGX500,001-UGX1,000,000	UGX1,800
UGX1,000,001-UGX2,000,000	UGX1,900

Withdrawal fees

UGX0-UGX2,500	UGX330
UGX2,501-UGX5,000	UGX440
UGX5,001-UGX15,000	UGX880
UGX15,001-UGX30,000	UGX1,320

View full fee table →

WAV

Wave

Uganda · UGX

Send money fees

UGX1+

Withdrawal fees

UGX1+

UGX0

View full fee table →

UGX exchange rates

Live

vs UGX (Ugandan Shilling)

Updated Jul 19, 00:00 UTCAll rates →

Government Levies & Taxes

Mobile Money Withdrawal Levy

Levy active

Uganda charges a 0.5% government levy on mobile money cash withdrawals only. Originally introduced at 1% in 2018, reduced to 0.5% after public backlash. Applies to MTN MoMo and Airtel Money withdrawals.

Rate

0.5%

Applies to

Withdraw only

Paid by

Sender

Effective since 2018-07-01

Quick Links

MTNMTN MoMo fees AIRAirtel Money fees WAVWave fees

Fee data last verified July 2026. Always confirm with your provider before large transactions.

The complete Uganda mobile money guide

Uganda has East Africa's most particular tax stack: 0.5% URA tax on every withdrawal, plus 15% VAT on the operator fee. The real cost of each MoMo operation depends on this stack - here are the pages that unpack it by amount, by type, and by use case.

★ Flagship

Mobile money tax 0.5%

URA + VAT - how the stack works, worked examples, 2026/27 status

Withdrawal hub

All withdrawal charges

Full MTN/Airtel schedule, URA tax, VAT - all-in cost by band

USSD codes

*165# (MTN), *185# (Airtel)

Every USSD path - send, withdraw, balance, MoPesa loan, MoMo Pay

Withdrawal cost by amount

UGX 10k → 855 all-in UGX 50k → 1,975 all-in UGX 100k → 2,714 all-in UGX 250k → 5,361 all-in UGX 500k → 10,550 all-in UGX 1M → 19,375 all-in UGX 2M → 27,250 all-in

All MoMo charges Send fees MoMo to bank Agent rights Cross-network Limits & KYC MoMo Pay *165*3#Check balance Reverse transfer MTN USSD deep Reset PIN Customer care MoPesa loan Download app Airtel UG→KE MTN MoMo fees Airtel Money fees Wave (low-cost)

The other Uganda tools

USD → UGX GBP → UGX KES → UGX Receive in Uganda →EAC hub →

Sending money to Uganda?

Compare the services that deliver to Uganda - neutral verdict, no-affiliate, with the real recipient-side costs.

🇦🇪From the UAE→🇺🇸From United States→🇬🇧From United Kingdom→🇰🇪From Kenya→🇿🇦From South Africa→

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the withdrawal levy in Uganda?

Uganda charges a 0.5% government levy on mobile money cash withdrawals only. It was originally introduced at 1% in 2018, then reduced to 0.5% after public backlash.

Does the levy apply to sending money in Uganda?

No, the 0.5% levy only applies to cash withdrawals. Wallet-to-wallet transfers are not taxed by the government.

What are the mobile money providers in Uganda?

The main mobile money providers in Uganda are MTN MoMo, Airtel Money, Wave. Use our calculator above to compare fees across all providers.

Which is the cheapest mobile money provider in Uganda?

The cheapest provider depends on the amount. Use our fee calculator to compare all providers side by side for your specific amount.

How do I avoid paying high mobile money fees in Uganda?

Tips: 1) Compare providers using MomoCalc before sending. 2) Use the provider's app instead of an agent. 3) Send larger amounts less frequently. 4) Know the official fees so agents can't overcharge.