Uganda mobile money USSD codes — MTN MoMo, Airtel Money, Wave
Every Uganda mobile money USSD code in one place: MTN MoMo *165#, Airtel Money *185#, and the deep paths for balance, send, withdraw, merchant pay and loan. Verified June 2026 against official operator sources.
✓ Verified June 2026.Live MTN/Airtel Uganda tariffs + URA rate confirmed.
MTN MoMo Uganda — *165#
| Action | USSD code | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Main menu | *165# | Every option from here |
| Send money | *165*1# | To MTN/Airtel/Wave |
| Pay merchant (MoMo Pay) | *165*3# | No fee, no tax |
| Bank services | *165*4# | Wallet to bank |
| Mini-statement | *165*8*4# | Mini or full |
| MoPesa (instant loan) | *165*45# | Instant approval and credit |
| Check balance | *165# → 6 | My Account menu → Balance |
| Change PIN | *165# → 9 | My Account → Change PIN |
Source: mtn.co.ug + MTN Uganda X account. Verified June 2026.
Airtel Money Uganda — *185#
| Action | USSD code | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Main menu | *185# | Airtel Money menu access |
| Send money | *185*1# | To any network (interop.) |
| Withdraw cash (generates a code) | *185# → 2 | 4-digit code to show the agent |
| Check balance | *185*10# | Free, instant |
| Buy airtime | *185# → 4 | Self or other number |
Source: airtel.co.ug/airtelmoney + Airtel Money Uganda X account. Verified June 2026.
Wave Uganda — use the app
Wave Uganda mainly works through its mobile app (iOS + Android), not USSD. For Wave operations, download the app from the App Store or Google Play, create the account with your UG number, and access all functions: send, withdraw, merchant pay, balance check.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MTN MoMo Uganda code?
*165#. Dial *165# and press call to open the main MTN MoMo menu. From there you access send, withdraw, balance, merchant pay, statement and MoPesa loan.
What is the Airtel Money Uganda code?
*185#. Dial *185# to open the main Airtel Money menu. Specific deep paths: *185*1# for send, *185*10# for balance.
Do USSD codes work on all phones?
Yes — that is the USSD advantage: it works on smartphone, feature phone and basic phone, no internet needed. That is why MTN and Airtel actively maintain their USSD menus despite promoting the MoMo app and the MyAirtel app.
Do USSD codes cost anything?
Menu access is free. Financial operations (send, withdraw, payment) trigger the normal operator fee per the schedule. Balance checks and PIN changes are free at both MTN and Airtel.
What if USSD does not respond?
First check your network signal. If you are on the right network and the code does not respond after 2-3 tries, try at a different time (12-2pm and 6-8pm peaks are sometimes congested). For MTN, you can also try the MTN MoMo app which uses data instead of USSD.