With just days to the much-anticipated Valentine’s Day slated for 14 February 2026, the Bank of Uganda (BoU) has warned Ugandans against using the national currency as gift wraps during celebrations, saying the practice damages banknotes and increases the cost of printing and destroying defaced money.
The warning was issued by Kenneth Egesa, the Director of Communications and Public Relations at Bank of Uganda, in a press statement released on 6 February 2026.
“The public is cautioned against any practice that mutilates, defaces or compromises the integrity of the Uganda Shilling currency,” Egesa said. “Such practices destroy the utility of banknotes, making them unusable in cash-processing and distribution equipment such as cash-counting machines and ATMs, which are a critical part of the cash distribution system.”
He added that damaged notes are often withdrawn from circulation prematurely and replaced at an avoidable cost to the public.
The Central Bank particularly targeted florists, designers, gifting stylists and their clients, warning them against using banknotes and coins to make bouquets or similar decorative creations.
“This mainly involves the use of brand-new banknotes that are stuck together using glue, cello tape, pins, clips and other adhesives or fasteners as part of floral bouquets for social events and gifting ceremonies,” Egesa noted.
While BoU does not object to the use of cash as a gift, Egesa emphasized that such exchanges must conform to the normal use of currency in facilitating payment transactions.
