Wave Charges in Uganda
🇺🇬 UGX (UGX) · Including all taxes
Wave is one of the leading mobile money services in Uganda, serving millions of users. Send fees are 1% 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.
How much does Wave charge in Uganda in 2026?
On Wave in Uganda, receiving is free. Sending money costs 1%. Cashing out is free. A state tax also applies (Mobile Money Withdrawal Levy). Tariffs verified against the operator source (June 2026).
Wave Send Money Fee Tiers in Uganda
| Range | Fee |
|---|---|
| UGX1+ | 1% 1% flat — Wave's model. Deposit and withdraw at agents: FREE. |
Wave Withdrawal (Cash-Out) Fee Tiers in Uganda
| Range | Fee |
|---|---|
| UGX1+ | UGX0 FREE — Wave agent withdrawals are always free. Govt levy (0.5%) still applies. |
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)
About Wave 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 Wave structures its fees. Sending is priced by band : 1% above UGX1. Cash-out is priced by band : free above UGX1. 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 Wave 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 Wave 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.
Wave vs Other Providers in Uganda: Fee Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Wave charge to send money in Uganda?
Wave charges 1% per transfer in Uganda.
What are the Wave withdrawal fees in Uganda?
Wave withdrawal fees in Uganda are UGX0 per transaction.
Is there a government levy on Wave transactions in Uganda?
Yes. Uganda applies a Mobile Money Withdrawal Levy on mobile money transactions.
What is the Wave USSD code in Uganda?
Use the Wave mobile app or visit an authorized agent in Uganda.
Is Wave 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 Wave in Uganda
- USSD code: via the Wave app - send, withdraw, balance, bills - no data, no smartphone.
- Low-cost model: Wave Uganda disrupts the market with send fees significantly lower than MTN and Airtel. Uganda's 0.5% URA tax and 15% VAT apply identically to every operator on cash-out - the differentiator is the operator fee.
- No fee: receiving into the wallet, holding the balance, paying via MoMo Pay (*165*3#). The URA tax only hits cash withdrawal.