For as little as Shs1,000, Ugandans can now take their first step into the world of investing, thanks to a new product launched jointly by MTN Mobile Money Uganda and Sanlam Investments East Africa.
The service, dubbed Yinvesta, is designed to help ordinary Ugandans grow their savings through a user-friendly mobile platform that offers daily interest earnings and instant withdrawals.
Speaking at the launch in Kampala on Wednesday, Ms Jemima Kariuki, the Chief Product Officer at MTN MoMo, said the product was about giving people financial power in their hands—literally.
“We believe financial empowerment should be accessible to everyone,” Ms Kariuki said. “Yinvesta simplifies investing. With just UGX 1,000, anyone can start their journey toward financial independence.”
Users can access Yinvesta by dialling *165*7*1# or through the MTN MoMo app, making it one of the most accessible investment tools on the market.
Licensed by the Capital Markets Authority, Yinvesta works like a unit trust fund—pooling small investments from individuals into a diversified portfolio made up of treasury bills, government bonds and bank deposits.
Mr Jonathan Stichbury, the Chief Executive Officer of Sanlam Investments East Africa, said the product responds to a growing demand for simple, low-barrier investment options.
“With the launch of Yinvesta, we are revolutionising how Ugandans invest,” he said. “This mobile-first platform allows anyone to start building their future with as little as Shs1,000. It’s secure, flexible, and transparent.”
Once an individual invests, interest begins to accumulate after 24 hours, and can be tracked through the mobile platform within three days. Withdrawals are processed instantly back to the user’s MTN mobile money account. The companies also clarified that there are no charges for using Yinvesta via the MoMo wallet.
At the launch event, attendees were taken through a demonstration of the platform and sessions on financial literacy, with emphasis on the importance of long-term saving.
Customers can also set up automated investments using MTN’s Standing Orders feature—choosing to invest daily, weekly or monthly without additional costs.
With more than 12 million customers, MTN Mobile Money remains Uganda’s largest mobile financial service provider. Sanlam Investments East Africa, a subsidiary of the Pan-African Sanlam Group, brings regional investment expertise to the partnership.
