Airtel Uganda, through its mobile financial services arm Airtel Money, has partnered with FINCA Uganda to launch Easy Float, a new loan product designed to empower Airtel Money agents with quick and flexible access to working capital.
The new service enables agents to seamlessly top up their float whenever they run low, ensuring uninterrupted service delivery to customers.
The launch event, held at Fairway Hotel in Kampala, marked a significant milestone in advancing financial inclusion and strengthening Uganda’s digital financial ecosystem.
Speaking at the launch, Japheth Aritho, Managing Director of Airtel Money Uganda, said the Easy Float initiative directly addresses one of the biggest operational challenges faced by agents — float liquidity.
Follow us on WhatsApp | LinkedIn for the latest headlines
“Many of us have approached agents for transactions only to be told they’ve run out of float. That has now ended,” Aritho said. “If an agent is depositing Shs 20,000 for a customer but the float is short by Shs 5,000, they can instantly access a top-up through the Easy Float loan. The transaction will be completed quickly, and our agents will no longer face float outages.”
Aritho added that the innovation will enable Airtel Money’s network of more than 324,000 agents — many of whom are young entrepreneurs — to expand their operations, increase earnings, and contribute to Uganda’s economic growth.
Robert Kakande, Executive Director of FINCA Uganda, applauded the partnership, noting that the collaboration aligns with FINCA’s mission to promote financial inclusion and empower micro-entrepreneurs.
“Our partnership with Airtel Money is a vital step in expanding digital financial access across Uganda,” Kakande said. “By providing essential working capital through the Easy Float platform, we are empowering thousands of micro-entrepreneurs to sustain their businesses, better serve their communities, and contribute meaningfully to the country’s economic growth.”
He further explained that loan repayment is flexible and automatically deducted from each agent’s monthly commissions, making the process convenient and manageable.
Easy Float is one of the latest innovations in Uganda’s evolving electronic financial landscape, offering clear benefits to both agents and customers by ensuring smooth, uninterrupted money transfer services. The solution arrives at a critical time when many agents have faced float shortages due to increasing customer demand, often disrupting service delivery.
(all Africa)
