MTN's Ibrahim Ssenyonga (L) and Denis Kakonge (2L), pose with UHOA's Susan Muhwezi (M) and her colleagues at the event.

MTN Uganda, MTN Mobile Money (U) Limited, and the Uganda Hotel Owners’ Association (UHOA) have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at Hotel Africana, marking the beginning of a strategic partnership aimed at accelerating digital transformation in Uganda’s hospitality sector.

The agreement combines MTN Uganda’s digital and ICT expertise, MTN MoMo’s financial technology solutions, and UHOA’s wide-reaching network of over 780 hotels across the country.

This partnership is designed to strengthen hotel operations through mobile money solutions, e-commerce platforms, enterprise connectivity, guest Wi-Fi, and other technology-driven tools.

• Speaking at the signing ceremony at Hotel Africana in Kampala on Friday, Ibrahim Senyonga, General Manager, MTN Enterprise Business, said forming partnerships is the way to go if certain priority sectors are to grow.

“This collaboration is a strong testament to the power of partnerships in realizing Uganda’s broader digital agenda,” he said.

“As part of our Ambition 2025 strategy, MTN is shifting from a telco to a full-scale techco, and partnerships like this are critical to driving growth in priority sectors like hospitality. Through this MoU, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting innovation, customer experience, and economic development through digital inclusion.”

• The hospitality sector accounts for nearly 70% of employment in Uganda’s tourism industry. Recognizing this, the tripartite partnership aims to empower UHOA members with tools that enhance efficiency, service delivery, and customer convenience—ranging from digital payments to ICT business solutions tailored for hotels.

Susan Muhwezi, the chairperson of UHOA, noted that the partnership is a pivotal step towards modernizing hotel operations in Uganda.

“With MTN Uganda and MTN MoMo, we are opening doors to cutting-edge technology, seamless payment systems, and digital infrastructure that our members can leverage to stay competitive in a fast-evolving market. It’s a win for our members, the industry, and ultimately for Uganda’s tourism potential,” she said.

Under the partnership, MTN MoMo, which serves more than 19 million active subscribers across Uganda, will collaborate with UHOA to roll out mobile money solutions for digital transactions, including bookings, bill payments, and integrations with hotel management systems.

“Through this partnership, we are creating new value for hotel owners by enabling secure, seamless, and scalable digital financial services that elevate the guest experience,” said Denis Kakonge, General Manager Corporate Services at MTN MoMo.

• “This collaboration will give hotels the ability to cater to both local and international guests using modern payment options backed by MTN MoMo’s reliability and reach.”

• This initiative is expected to improve operational efficiency, enhance guest experiences, and strengthen Uganda’s competitiveness as a tourism destination. Following the signing, MTN and UHOA will launch sector-wide consultations to understand hotel owners’ communication and technology needs, ensuring solutions are customized to drive digitization across the industry.

The partnership is also featuring prominently at the ongoing UHOA Expo 2025, which ends on August 3 at Hotel Africana, Kampala, to mark UHOA’s 25th anniversary.

Going forward, the collaboration will extend to engagements with key tourism stakeholders, including the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) and the Uganda Tour Operators Association, to strengthen public-private sector cooperation in digital transformation.

MTN officials said the partnership reflects the company’s commitment to its vision of “leading the delivery of a bold new digital world to our customers.”