Here are your choices should you wish to send money to Uganda.
Remit.ug (Now useremit.com)
Built by local firm Redcore Interactive, Remit.ug offers real-time debit / credit card to mobile-money transfers from all over the world to registered mobile-money users in Uganda. From your credit card to grandma’s feature phone, how cool is that? All you need to get started is setup an account with them, add a Visa/Master card and then enter the receiver’s phone number. Done. The company charges 5.4% of the transferred amount. Read More: Remit.ug rebrands into Useremit.com now allows you send money to Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda
Worldremit
Closely competing against Remit is Worldremit. They send money to users’ bank accounts and Mobile phone after you have created an account with them. All you have to do is create an account with them, then add a new recipient by entering their name, address and other relevant information such as bank account number. The recipient will receive an email/SMS notification on their phone when the money arrives. They can then receive money from a Forex bureau or their bank. Start by clicking here to send money to family and friends in Uganda.
MTN Homeland
With the MTN Homeland mobile App available on Android and iOS, Africans living in 25 European countries can send money instantly to MTN Subscribers back home. Currently you can send money to MTN mobile money wallets in Cameroon, Republic of Congo, Ghana, Guinea-Conakry, Rwanda, Uganda and Zambia.
Moneygram
Moneygram offers a convenient way of sending money to your loved ones in Uganda offline in person or online. The receiver can get the money in person through a number of pickup locations around the country or money can be deposited directly to their bank account. All you have to do is specify the recipient’s names and then you can either pay with your credit or debit card, or directly from your bank account. To send money online using moneygram, visit their website here to send money to family and friends in Uganda.
Western Union
For a long time, Western Union has been synonymous to international money transfers. You can send money to anyone in the world as long as they have proper identification. No need of a bank account or even a mobile phone. Just a valid ID. They charge a percentage on the money transferred as much as 10%. Related story: 5 tips on how to receive money in Uganda using Western Union
Transferwise
TransferWise is a British online money transfer service founded in January 2011 by Estonians Kristo Käärmann and Taavet Hinrikus and is based in London. They claim they just use the exchange rate – independently provided by Reuters which apparently is low-cost and fair. To get started sending money to Uganda, start here.
Paypal
Yes you can use Paypal, the banking company owned by eBay, to transfer funds. It’s very simple and easy. But both the sender and receive must have a PayPal account. If the receiver doesn’t have an account, they’ll receive an email instructing them to open up one. After which they can receive money on their PayPal account. Unfortunately, not so many banks in Uganda support PayPal yet which makes it less suitable for transfers especially for recipients based in Uganda. Also transferring funds can take days on Paypal. Update: Paypal doesn’t actually support sending money to Uganda. Sorry for the misinformation and Thanks Abdu for pointing this out. Instead look at this post for workarounds.
— Ask PayPal (@AskPayPal) February 19, 2015
Bank Wire transfer
This has been one the most used method of transferring funds from one person to another. But both people need to have bank accounts for it to work. Usually how it works is that a sender approaches a bank and gives the bank the order to transfer a certain amount of money. Related post: Send money to Nigeria through 10 different ways The sending bank then sends a message to the recipient’s bank requesting for payment to be made to the their account. A settlement is made between the two banks and the recipient gets their money. But this isn’t instant. It takes hours and sometimes days — actually 4 working days. No wonder the bank money transfers have been disrupted. So there you go; 5 ways to send money to Uganda. If you know of any other way, Please share (this time am serious) in the comments. Image: property-abroad.com
