Airtel Money Charges in Uganda
🇺🇬 UGX (UGX) · Including all taxes
Airtel Money is one of the leading mobile money services in Uganda, serving millions of users. Send fees are UGX1,500 per transaction. Note that Uganda applies a government levy on mobile money transactions. Use the fee tables below to see all charges including government taxes.
See Airtel Money in every country →How much does Airtel Money charge in Uganda in 2026?
On Airtel Money in Uganda, receiving is free. Sending money costs UGX1,500 UGX125,001–UGX250,000, up to UGX2,000 on larger amounts. Cashing out costs UGX330 up to UGX2,500, up to UGX18,000 on larger amounts. A state tax also applies (Mobile Money Withdrawal Levy). Tariffs verified against the operator source (June 2026).
Airtel Money Send Money Fee Tiers in Uganda
| Range | Fee |
|---|---|
| UGX125,001 - UGX250,000 | UGX1,500 UGX 1,500 |
| UGX250,001 - UGX500,000 | UGX1,700 UGX 1,700 |
| UGX500,001 - UGX1,000,000 | UGX1,800 UGX 1,800 |
| UGX1,000,001 - UGX2,000,000 | UGX1,900 UGX 1,900 |
| UGX2,000,001 - UGX4,000,000 | UGX2,000 UGX 2,000 |
| UGX4,000,001 - UGX5,000,000 | UGX2,000 UGX 2,000 (max) |
Airtel Money Withdrawal (Cash-Out) Fee Tiers in Uganda
| Range | Fee |
|---|---|
| UGX0 - UGX2,500 | UGX330 UGX 330 (+ 0.5% govt levy) |
| UGX2,501 - UGX5,000 | UGX440 UGX 440 |
| UGX5,001 - UGX15,000 | UGX880 UGX 880 |
| UGX15,001 - UGX30,000 | UGX1,320 UGX 1,320 |
| UGX30,001 - UGX45,000 | UGX1,760 UGX 1,760 |
| UGX45,001 - UGX60,000 | UGX2,200 UGX 2,200 |
| UGX60,001 - UGX125,000 | UGX3,300 UGX 3,300 |
| UGX125,001 - UGX250,000 | UGX4,400 UGX 4,400 |
| UGX250,001 - UGX500,000 | UGX7,700 UGX 7,700 |
| UGX500,001 - UGX1,000,000 | UGX12,100 UGX 12,100 |
| UGX1,000,001 - UGX2,000,000 | UGX16,500 UGX 16,500 |
| UGX2,000,001 - UGX4,000,000 | UGX17,600 UGX 17,600 |
| UGX4,000,001 - UGX5,000,000 | UGX18,000 UGX 18,000 (max) |
Uganda Mobile Money Levies & Taxes
Mobile Money Withdrawal Levy
Levy activeUganda 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.
Paid by sender
Airtel Money to Bank & Bank to Airtel Money: Transfer Fees
How much does a Airtel Money to bank transfer cost in Uganda?
Tiered by amount: about UGX 700 (UGX 5,001–30,000), UGX 1,000 (up to 60,000), UGX 1,500 (up to 125,000), UGX 2,000 (up to 250,000), rising to about UGX 11,300 on the largest band. Confirm the live tier on *185# before sending.
Tiered by amount: about UGX 700 (UGX 5,001–30,000), UGX 1,000 (up to 60,000), UGX 1,500 (up to 125,000), UGX 2,000 (up to 250,000), rising to about UGX 11,300 on the largest band. Confirm the live tier on *185# before sending.
Free (UGX 0) to receive a bank transfer into the Airtel Money wallet. Your bank may apply its own outbound charge on its side.
Uganda's 0.5% mobile-money tax applies ONLY to cash withdrawals (at an agent, ATM or bank counter) — it does NOT apply to bank-to-wallet or wallet-to-bank transfers, which are exempt. A 2026 proposal to extend the tax to transfers was rejected.
Worked example: Sending UGX 100,000 from Airtel Money to a bank account falls in the UGX 60,001–125,000 band at about UGX 1,500. Receiving UGX 100,000 from a bank into the wallet is free. Neither pays the 0.5% withdrawal tax — that only hits cash-outs.
Source: SenteGuide Airtel Money tariff (Apr 2025) — wallet→bank tiers single-source, verify live on *185#; 0.5% tax scope per PwC + The Observer (13 Apr 2026)
How to Send Money with Airtel Money in Uganda
- Dial *185# — Open your phone's dialer and enter *185# on the Airtel Money SIM.
- Choose Send Money — Select Transfer / Send Money from the menu.
- Enter the recipient number — Type the recipient's mobile number, then confirm the name shown.
- Enter the amount — Enter the amount to send; any fee is displayed before you confirm.
- Confirm with your PIN — Enter your Airtel Money PIN to authorise; you get an SMS confirmation.
About Airtel Money in Uganda
Uganda is an MTN MoMo and Airtel Money duopoly, with Wave a newer low-fee entrant. A 0.5% excise sits on cash WITHDRAWALS (not on sends), so the send fee and the later cash-out levy are two separate things to plan for in Uganda.
On pricing, here is how Airtel Money structures its fees. Sending is priced by band : flat UGX1,500 UGX125,001–UGX250,000; flat UGX1,700 UGX250,001–UGX500,000; flat UGX1,800 UGX500,001–UGX1,000,000; flat UGX1,900 UGX1,000,001–UGX2,000,000. Cash-out is priced by band : flat UGX330 up to UGX2,500; flat UGX440 UGX2,501–UGX5,000; flat UGX880 UGX5,001–UGX15,000; flat UGX1,320 UGX15,001–UGX30,000. Receiving money is free; the cost sits at sending and at cashing out to physical cash.
Government levy. Uganda applies a government levy (Mobile Money Withdrawal Levy) on top of the operator fee — it is already included in the calculator totals above.
How to use it. You manage Airtel Money via the mobile app, the operator's USSD menu (no internet needed), or an authorised agent to deposit and withdraw cash. Fees are identical on every channel — the schedule above applies with no per-channel surcharge, and an agent should never charge cash on top of the fee deducted from your balance.
To compare Airtel Money with the other operators in Uganda for your exact amount, use the calculator at the top of this page or open the Uganda page. Tariffs rendered from our database, verified in 2026.
Airtel Money vs Other Providers in Uganda: Fee Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Airtel Money charge to send money in Uganda?
Airtel Money charges UGX1,500 per transfer in Uganda.
What are the Airtel Money withdrawal fees in Uganda?
Airtel Money withdrawal fees in Uganda are UGX330 per transaction.
Is there a government levy on Airtel Money transactions in Uganda?
Yes. Uganda applies a Mobile Money Withdrawal Levy on mobile money transactions.
What is the Airtel Money USSD code in Uganda?
Use the Airtel Money mobile app or visit an authorized agent in Uganda.
Is Airtel Money the cheapest mobile money provider in Uganda?
It depends on the amount. Use the MomoCalc calculator on the Uganda page to compare all providers for your specific amount.
How much does a Airtel Money to bank transfer cost in Uganda?
Tiered by amount: about UGX 700 (UGX 5,001–30,000), UGX 1,000 (up to 60,000), UGX 1,500 (up to 125,000), UGX 2,000 (up to 250,000), rising to about UGX 11,300 on the largest band. Confirm the live tier on *185# before sending.
What is the bank to Airtel Money fee in Uganda?
Free (UGX 0) to receive a bank transfer into the Airtel Money wallet. Your bank may apply its own outbound charge on its side.
Does any tax apply to Airtel Money to bank transfers in Uganda?
Uganda's 0.5% mobile-money tax applies ONLY to cash withdrawals (at an agent, ATM or bank counter) — it does NOT apply to bank-to-wallet or wallet-to-bank transfers, which are exempt. A 2026 proposal to extend the tax to transfers was rejected.
The day-to-day on Airtel Money in Uganda
- USSD code: *185# - send, withdraw, balance, bills - no data, no smartphone.
- Withdrawal: the operator fee stacks with Uganda's 0.5% URA tax (on the amount) and 15% VAT (on the fee) - see the all-in cost by amount.
- No fee: receiving into the wallet, holding the balance, paying via MoMo Pay (*165*3#). The URA tax only hits cash withdrawal.