Uganda has over 10 million mobile phone subscribers and only about three million bank account holders. Mobile operator Zain operates a mobile money service named "Zap" in the country. The service provides mobile based financial services to the millions of mobile subscribers without formal bank accounts.
Picture those days when you had to spend Shs10, 000 on bus fare to deliver just Shs20, 000 to a relative. Or imagine the long queues in the banking halls when you want to pay utility bills or your child’s school fees.
The advent of mobile money, a platform which allows people to use their mobile phones like wallets to transfer money, pay for goods and services and conduct banking services, has started to have a transformative effect at a faster pace than previouslyenvisaged.
The massive uptake of the mobile commerce platform as opposed to traditional banks can be explained by the rapid growth of mobile phone penetration, creating a fertile ground for service.