Coronavirus fight: MTN offers free mobile money services

Telecom Company MTN Uganda has unveiled a new offer to allow Ugandans send small amounts of Mobile Money at no cost for the next 30 days.

The move is aimed at minimising the physical exchange of paper money in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

"The offer is meant to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19  that has paralysed daily life across the world," a Thursday statement said.

The offer is only available for those sending sh30, 000 or less.

The company has also launched data bundle that will enable customers to work from home.

President Yoweri Museveni on Wednesday announced that schools, higher institutions of learning among others had been closed.

"Dubbed ‘Work from home', the data bundle is meant to promote the concept of ‘social distancing' while reducing the anticipated negative impact that limited movement and contact between people, may have on both the economic and social fabric of our society," the statement said.

"This is an extraordinary time, a time when as MTN we need to stand up and be counted on to do the right thing," Wim Vanhelleputte, the MTN Uganda CEO, is quoted in the statement.

"Although the country has not confirmed any case of COVID-19, it is better for us to take precautionary measures.

Government has already taken several steps in protecting her people and we feel that it is proper for us to complement government efforts in this monumental effort to tackle the threat posed by this disease," Wim further commented.

MTN has also made sh500m available, with immediate effect, and offered the Ministry of Health free media channel space on radio, TV, social media, SMS plus its call centre IVR platform to promote prevention messages spearheaded by the Ministry of Health.