A few taps away: How MoMo is making school fees easier for parents

What the report says

The Independent Uganda reports that MTN Mobile Money is being promoted as a simpler way for Ugandan parents to pay school fees during the third term, when many families are still trying to clear balances before schools close in early December. The article says the service lets parents transfer fees directly from a phone instead of traveling to a bank or school, withdrawing cash, or handling paper deposit slips.

According to the report, parents interviewed by the publisher said the system saves time and reduces the risk of carrying large amounts of cash. It also creates a digital record that schools can see immediately, which can make fee verification easier. The story cites MTN MoMo as saying parents can use the MoMo app or a USSD code to pay, and that eligible customers may also access school-fees financing for up to four children.

The company is pairing the payment push with a campaign that offers a chance to win a full year of school fees, valued at up to Shs 6 million, and discounts on back-to-school shopping at selected supermarkets. It is also offering schools a chance to win a school van if they accept fees through MoMo. The report says Jinja School of Nursing & Midwifery and Lucky Kids Academy have already received school vans under the initiative.

The broader significance is that mobile money is increasingly shaping everyday payment habits in Uganda, especially for education expenses that come with deadlines and administrative burden.