Asset financing firm MOGO Uganda has teamed up with Airtel Uganda to roll out a new smartphone loan programme aimed at making devices from Tecno, Infinix, and itel more accessible to Ugandans.
The initiative is designed to tackle the growing demand for affordable smartphones, offering more people the chance to get online, learn new skills, and unlock opportunities in the digital age.
Under the scheme, customers can get their hands on a new smartphone by paying an upfront deposit of just 28% of the total cost. Daily repayments start at just UGX 848, with flexible options to pay off the balance over a period of up to 52 weeks.
The process has been kept simple. All that’s needed to apply is a national ID and a mobile money-registered SIM card. No collateral or income checks are required, and in many cases, approvals are granted in under 15 minutes.
Applications can be made at Airtel Uganda stores or via MOGO’s authorised representatives.
To sweeten the deal, Airtel is offering buyers 3GB of free data every month for three months—enough to get started with browsing, streaming, studying, or running a small business online.
Douglas Kikonyogo, MOGO Uganda’s Marketing and Communications Manager, believes the move will have a meaningful impact.
“This collaboration marks a significant step toward digital inclusion,” he said. “By providing affordable financing for high-quality smartphones, we’re removing obstacles and empowering Ugandans with vital digital tools for education, commerce, and communication.”
He added that while smartphones are becoming increasingly important, affordability remains a key barrier—especially in rural areas, where network access and electricity supply also pose challenges.
But with flexible financing and data incentives on offer, the hope is that more Ugandans will now be able to make the switch from basic phones to smartphones—and take full advantage of what the digital world has to offer.