Airtel Money Uganda launches Kwaata Sente mobile loans
Airtel Money Uganda, Centenary Bank and gnuGrid Technologies have launched Kwaata Sente, a digital loan service that lets eligible Airtel Money customers access short-term credit directly from their mobile wallets.
Loans start from UGX10,000 (about US$2.80), and customers can apply without visiting a bank branch. Approvals and loan limits are subject to individual assessment.
The service is aimed at Ugandans who may not qualify for conventional bank loans or who face barriers to credit through traditional banking channels. Airtel Money provides the mobile financial services, Centenary Bank the lending expertise and gnuGrid Technologies the digital credit assessment capabilities.
Godfrey Byekwaso, MD of Centenary Bank, said the initiative will let the bank extend its digital lending reach beyond its existing account holders.
“You don’t have to be a Centenary Bank customer to access these services,” Byekwaso said.
Kwaata Sente uses customers’ digital footprints to help determine their creditworthiness. That could open up lending to people with limited access to conventional financial services.
Opio Obwangamoi David, MD of gnuGrid Technologies, said digital information can give lenders an alternative basis for assessing applicants, particularly those whose financial circumstances make it difficult to meet traditional lending requirements.
Responsible borrowing
Airtel Money also stressed that wider access to credit should not come at the expense of responsible borrowing.
Japhet Aritho, MD of Airtel Money Uganda, urged customers to understand the terms of their loans, borrow within their financial capacity and repay on time. He warned against borrowing practices that could trap customers in recurring debt.
The launch comes as Uganda’s mobile money platforms are increasingly used to deliver services beyond payments and transfers. By building credit into the mobile wallet, the partners aim to make short-term financing more convenient for customers who need funds for immediate expenses or business activities.
The service’s impact, however, will depend partly on how lending limits, repayment obligations and credit assessments are managed. Digital lending can lower some of the barriers associated with traditional banking, but borrowers still need to understand the cost of credit and their ability to repay.
The partners said the initiative is intended to strengthen financial inclusion in Uganda while supporting a sustainable digital lending ecosystem.
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