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    East Africa telecoms penetrate money transfer services

    Two more telecommunication companies in East Africa have joined Kenya's Safaricom in providing money transfer services to their subscribers by way of mobile phones. The move is set to tilt the scales in the financial sector and boost revenues earned by the telecoms.

    The latest entrant into the business is MTN Uganda's Mobile Money which was unveiled to the Ugandan public by MTN, in Kampala on 24 February. While breathing the fresh money transfer system into the financial markets, Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebile, Bank of Uganda's Governor said, Mobile Money which was pioneered by Safaricom under the M-Pesa brand, would lift rural finance to an advanced level.

    The service comes as a relief to millions of Ugandans who have either had to endure high money transfer costs charged by either banks, or money transfer service like Western Union, Moneygram and Dahabshill.

    Until yesterday, most money movers had to meet costs ranging between 5% and 15% of the amount of cash in transit. However, with the coming of Mobile Money, charges will be less than 3% of total cash in transit.

    The launch of MTN's service comes hot on the heels of the simultaneous launch of Zap by Zain a Pan African mobile service provider, in Kenya, Tanzania and Spain last week.

    About Walter Wafula

    Walter Wafula is a seasoned journalist who has reported for the Daily Monitor newspaper in Kampala-Uganda. He is also a contributor on Bizcommunity.com website. Email Walter at moc.oohay@tlawfaw and connect on LinkedIn.
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