Telecommunication firm, Airtel Uganda in partnership with d.Light Uganda has announced the addition of more affordable smartphones in its Hire Purchase Plan that allows Ugandans across the country to buy affordable smartphones on a hire purchase basis with an initial deposit, and then complete the payment in a period of 365 days (1 year). Customers can choose to pay in daily, weekly, or monthly installments.
Airtel Uganda says this plan is intended to extend access to the opportunities of the internet to Ugandans across the country.
“Our partnership with d.light Uganda Limited is timely and will enable more people to access the opportunities of the internet without having to pay upfront for smartphones,” Manoj Murali, the Managing Director of Airtel Uganda said at a press briefing at d.Light Uganda Limited service center in Mukono. “Today,
Murali noted that smartphones are like minicomputers that possess numerous uses and benefits —gradually, these have driven the growth of different sectors in Uganda and globally. “We have a duty to extend these possibilities to many Ugandans because they break the barriers to digital inclusion,” he said.
Douglas Gavala, Managing Director at, d.Light Uganda Limited welcomed the partnership.
“We welcome the partnership with Airtel Uganda which I believe will go a long way in increasing smartphone penetration in Uganda since communication is a key driver of development as it enables businesses to operate effectively and families to connect with their loved ones,” Gavala told the press.
Gavala said d.Light takes pride, in aiding social transformation by collaborating with partners like Airtel Uganda to offer solution-based products and services that improve the livelihood of Ugandans.
The smartphones added to the Hire Purchase Plan include the Nokia C10, Samsung A03 Core, Tecno Pop 5 Pro, and the Tecno Pova Neo. To purchase any of these phones, customers will be required to make an initial deposit (a fraction of the cost of the phone) [refer to the table below], and complete their payment by making daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly payments. Whichever suits their financial capability.
| Device Model | Nokia C10 | Tecno Pop 5 Pro | Tecno Pova Neo | Samsung A03 Core |
|
Specs |
||||
| Memory | 32GB, 2GB RAM | 32GB, 2GB RAM | 64GB, 4GB RAM | 32GB, 2GB RAM |
| Camera (MP): Front/Rear | 5/5 | 5/8 | 8/13 | 5/8 |
| Battery (mAh) | 3000 | 6000 | 6000 | 5000 |
|
Payment Plan |
||||
| Initial Deposit (UGX) | 110,000 | 130,000 | 150,000 | 125,000 |
| Daily Rate (UGX) | 2,100 | 2,700 | 3,600 | 2,550 |
| Monthly Rate (UGX) | 63,000 | 81,000 | 108,000 | 76,500 |
In 2021, GSMA, a global association that represents the interests of mobile network operators with over 750 members released a report that highlighted that Uganda had a smartphone adoption of 16%, marked lower than the 30% average for Sub-Saharan Africa.
“The 2021 GSMA report on smartphone penetration in Uganda presents an opportunity for Airtel Uganda and other sector players to design and introduce products that are affordable so that more Ugandans can access these services, which will change the way people do business, connect, study, and socialize. We are happy to provide that connection,” explained Murali.
ALSO READ: PAY MPOLAMPOLA TRANSFORMING LIVES THROUGH DIGITAL INCLUSION
