The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED) and the Bank of Uganda (BoU) have launched the pilot phase of the Okusevinga Money Market Unit Trust Scheme, a landmark initiative aimed at expanding access to safe and affordable investment opportunities for Ugandans.
Okusevinga is Africa’s first government-owned unit trust scheme, marking a strategic shift from simply increasing access to financial services to enabling meaningful participation in savings and investments.
The initiative builds on Uganda’s strong progress in financial inclusion, with 81% of adults now having access to financial services, according to the FinScope Uganda 2023 Survey—driven largely by the widespread adoption of mobile money.
Despite this progress, a significant proportion of Ugandans continue to save informally, limiting the potential of household savings to earn returns and support long-term financial resilience.
Okusevinga seeks to bridge this gap by allowing individuals to invest small amounts directly into regulated money market and bond funds via a simple, mobile-based platform.
The pilot phase will involve a limited group of participants who will test the full functionality of the platform, including registration, investment transactions, and balance inquiries.
This controlled rollout is designed to validate system performance, strengthen consumer safeguards, and refine the user experience ahead of a broader public launch in early 2026.
“This phased approach ensures that the platform operates efficiently, securely, and in compliance with regulatory standards before it is made available to the general public,” a MoFPED official said.
By linking small savers to professionally managed, low-risk investment instruments, Okusevinga is expected to enhance household financial health while contributing to deeper domestic capital markets and sustainable economic growth.
The pilot is supported by key partners, including the Capital Markets Authority, Uganda Communications Commission, National Information Technology Authority, Financial Sector Deepening Uganda, Uganda Investment Authority, and Airtel Uganda.
As the pilot progresses, MoFPED and BoU will continue to engage stakeholders, strengthen financial literacy initiatives, and prepare for the next phase of implementation. Further communication will be provided to inform the public about the full launch and participation modalities.
