MTN and Airtel Mobile Money Agent Business in Uganda: Real Costs and Commissions (2026)

If someone wants to sell you an "Airtel agent line" in Uganda for anything from UGX 60,000 to 600,000, be careful. Airtel doesn't sell agent lines that way, and those prices come from resellers.

MTN is clearer about what really matters: you need at least UGX 200,000 in working capital to become an MTN Mobile Money agent. Here's what it really costs to start on both networks, what you'll earn in commission and what to watch out for.

Why nobody can give you a fixed "agent line" price

MTN and Airtel don't sell agent SIMs over the counter like a normal line. You get the SIM as part of your agent application, after the network has checked your documents and approved you. It doesn't have a shelf price.

MTN's own agent page lists what it asks for to approve you:

• A National ID
• An original business license
• A certificate of incorporation or business permit
• Acceptance of MTN's agent terms and conditions
• At least UGX 200,000 in capital, "to buy float and remain with cash to service cash-out customers"

There's no separate "SIM fee" on that list. The cost of starting is the float, not the line itself (MTN Uganda, MoMo Agent, checked October 2026).

Airtel doesn't publish a similar checklist or price online. Its Uganda website and agent pages list no line cost, minimum float or commission rates as of October 2026. So for Airtel, visit an Airtel Uganda shop with your business documents and ask what they need right now.

Don't buy a "ready" agent line from a reseller

Sites like Jiji and OLX are full of "ready-registered" MTN and Airtel agent lines at all kinds of prices. Avoid them. A line registered in someone else's name is a risk: if the network flags it, or the real owner claims it back, you can lose access to a till holding your customers' money. Apply directly with the network using your own documents. It costs you time, not a markup.

How much float do you actually need?

Float is simply money, split two ways: digital balance (e-float) to credit customers who deposit cash with you, and physical cash to pay out customers who are withdrawing. You need both, and they need to stay roughly balanced, or you'll turn away customers on whichever side runs dry first.

MTN's published minimum is UGX 200,000. Treat that as the least you need, not a target, because in a busy trading centre you'll use it up in your first morning. Airtel doesn't publish a minimum, so plan for at least what MTN asks, and more if you're aiming for a busy spot like a market, bus park or during school fees season. If UGX 200,000 still feels steep, see our roundup of low-capital business ideas in Uganda for cheaper ways in, including businesses that need no stock at all.

What registration actually costs

Before either network will approve you, you need a registered business. As of October 2026, the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) charges:

You'll also need a trading licence from your local council. The fee depends on your district or KCCA division and the type of business, so check the current rate with your sub-county or municipal office rather than trusting a figure online. Most agent applications also need a URA Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN). If you don't have one, our guide on getting a URA TIN number online in Uganda covers the free instant TIN. Running the agent line as a group? A SACCO is a different legal setup, registered through MTIC rather than URSB. See our guide to registering a SACCO in Uganda if that suits you better.

MTN mobile money agent commission rates in Uganda (2026)

MTN is the only network that publishes a full agent commission schedule. These are the rates on its own agent page.

Cash deposit (cash-in) commission:

Cash withdrawal (cash-out) commission:

Beyond deposits and withdrawals, MTN also pays:

• Bill payments: UGX 35 to UGX 12,000, depending on the size of the bill.
• Airtime and bundle assistance: 4.4% of the transaction value when you top up a customer's airtime or data on their behalf.
• Xtra Float: if your float runs low, MTN lets agents borrow up to UGX 1,000,000 for a flat fee of UGX 500. But there's a 1% penalty if you haven't repaid within 24 hours, and 2% after 48 hours, so repay fast.

These are agent commissions: what you earn. They're different from the fees MTN and Airtel charge customers to send, withdraw or pay bills, which we cover in our MTN MoMo and Airtel Money charges guide. Work out the customer's cost for any amount with our Uganda mobile money charges calculator.

What does Airtel pay its agents?

Airtel hasn't published a 2026 commission schedule we could verify. Any "Airtel agent commission table" you find floating around online that isn't dated this year is almost certainly years out of date and shouldn't be trusted for planning your numbers.

Here's what is known: Airtel Money has more than 324,000 agents across Uganda, and in October 2025 Airtel and FINCA Uganda launched Easy Float, a short-term loan that tops up an agent's float automatically when it runs low, repaid from the agent's monthly commission (pctechmag.com, 29 October 2025). That shows commissions are real and paid monthly, but not what the rate is.

Ask for Airtel's current written commission sheet when you apply at a shop, and get it in writing before you commit your float to their network over MTN's.

How much can you actually earn? A worked example

Say you run an MTN kiosk in a reasonably busy trading centre, and on an average day you process:

• 15 cash-ins of around UGX 20,000 each
• 15 cash-ins of around UGX 100,000 each
• 15 cash-outs of around UGX 20,000 each
• 15 cash-outs of around UGX 100,000 each

Using MTN's published rates above, that's 15 × (225 + 400 + 275 + 600) = UGX 22,500 a day in commission, or about UGX 675,000 a month from deposits and withdrawals alone, before anything extra from bill payments and airtime.

That's income, not profit. Rent, staff, security and transport come out of it, and those costs vary hugely between a quiet upcountry road and a busy Kampala junction. Get real quotes for your location before you put in your float. If you hire an attendant to run the kiosk, work out what their pay really costs you (PAYE, NSSF and take-home pay) with our Uganda PAYE calculator.

How big is this market, really?

Mobile money in Uganda is still growing. In the quarter to June 2026, Uganda had 59.5 million registered mobile money subscriptions and 37.8 million active (90-day) subscriptions, up from 58.7 million and 36.7 million the quarter before, with 2.55 billion transactions in three months. All figures are Bank of Uganda data from the Uganda Communications Commission's Q2 2026 Market Performance Report. Demand for agents isn't slowing, which is why this remains a solid small business to start.

Risks every agent should know

• A "ready" agent line from a stranger. As covered above, it's not registered in your name and can be deregistered or disputed without warning.
• Fake notes. Large cash deposits are where fake notes get passed, so check every big note before you credit a customer's wallet.
• SIM-swap and social engineering. Never share your agent PIN or let anyone "help" you process a transaction on your phone.
• Running out of float at busy times. Paydays, market days and school fees season will drain whichever side of your float is already low. Plan ahead rather than scrambling.
• Robbery. Physical cash makes you a target. Use a safe, vary your banking times, and don't let customers see how much cash you're holding.

If a mobile money kiosk isn't the right fit, our guides to other profitable investment opportunities in Uganda and starting a small bakery in Uganda cover businesses with similarly low barriers to entry, and our Uganda hub rounds up every money guide we've written for the country.

Frequently asked questions

How much does an Airtel Money agent line cost in Uganda?

Airtel doesn't publish a fixed price, because it doesn't sell the line on its own. You get it once you apply and are approved at an Airtel Uganda shop. Ignore online listings quoting a shilling price and apply directly with your own documents.

How much float do I need to start a mobile money agent business in Uganda?

MTN's published minimum is UGX 200,000, split between digital float and physical cash. Airtel hasn't published a minimum, so budget at least the same amount, more if you're in a high-traffic location.

How much commission do mobile money agents earn in Uganda?

On MTN, commission runs from UGX 100 on a small UGX 500–2,500 withdrawal up to UGX 5,000 on withdrawals between UGX 4 million and 7 million, plus separate rates for bill payments and airtime assistance. Airtel hasn't published a current commission schedule, so confirm its rates directly with an Airtel shop before you commit.

What documents do I need to become an MTN or Airtel mobile money agent in Uganda?

You'll typically need a National ID, a registered business name or certificate of incorporation, a trading license from your local council, and a URA TIN. MTN also requires at least UGX 200,000 in starting capital.

How many people use mobile money in Uganda in 2026?

As of June 2026, Uganda had 59.5 million registered mobile money subscriptions and 37.8 million active (90-day) subscriptions, according to Bank of Uganda data published by the Uganda Communications Commission.

Is it safe to buy a mobile money agent line from someone else?

No. A line registered in someone else's name can be deregistered or disputed by the network or the original owner, and you could lose access to a till holding customer funds. Register directly with MTN or Airtel instead.