Airtel Money charges in Uganda have two parts on a withdrawal: Airtel’s banded fee and the government’s 0.5% excise duty on the amount you take out. Withdrawing UGX 100,000 costs about UGX 3,800: UGX 3,300 to Airtel and UGX 500 in tax. Sending the same amount costs UGX 1,200, and receiving money is free.
The fees below follow Airtel Uganda’s tariff guide (April 2025 edition), as compiled by SenteGuide. Airtel revised its sending and withdrawal charges in June 2024. (Airtel Money Uganda)
→ Use the free Airtel Money Charges Calculator at MetricSuite.tools to calculate this instantly, no signup required.
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Sending fees apply to Airtel and to other networks. Withdrawal fees are for agent cash-outs and exclude the 0.5% excise duty.
| Amount (UGX) | Withdrawal fee (UGX) | Sending fee (UGX) |
|---|---|---|
| 500 – 2,500 | 330 | 100 |
| 2,501 – 5,000 | 440 | 150 |
| 5,001 – 15,000 | 880 | 330 |
| 15,001 – 30,000 | 1,320 | 550 |
| 30,001 – 45,000 | 1,760 | 800 |
| 45,001 – 60,000 | 2,200 | 1,000 |
| 60,001 – 125,000 | 3,300 | 1,200 |
| 125,001 – 250,000 | 4,400 | 1,500 |
| 250,001 – 500,000 | 7,700 | 1,700 |
| 500,001 – 1,000,000 | 12,100 | 1,800 |
| 1,000,001 – 2,000,000 | 16,500 | 1,900 |
| 2,000,001 – 4,000,000 | 17,600 | 2,000 |
| 4,000,001 – 5,000,000 | 18,000 | 2,000 |
Confirm the fee on *185# or the My Airtel App before you transact. Fees are deducted from your wallet automatically, so do not pay an agent separately.
The 0.5% excise duty on Airtel Money withdrawals
Uganda charges 0.5% excise duty on the amount withdrawn, on top of the operator fee. It is calculated on the withdrawal value, not on the fee. (Daily Monitor, AllAfrica) The 2018 amendment limited it to withdrawals, so sending and receiving are not affected. (MFW4A)
Airtel’s own chart lists a tax figure per band. The examples below use 0.5% of the exact amount.
What an Airtel Money withdrawal really costs in Uganda
| Withdrawal (UGX) | Airtel fee | Excise duty (0.5%) | Total | Total as % of amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20,000 | 1,320 | 100 | 1,420 | 7.1% |
| 100,000 | 3,300 | 500 | 3,800 | 3.8% |
| 500,000 | 7,700 | 2,500 | 10,200 | 2.0% |
| 1,000,000 | 12,100 | 5,000 | 17,100 | 1.7% |
Small withdrawals are the most expensive per shilling. A UGX 20,000 cash-out loses 7.1%.
Pay digitally instead of cashing out
Sending UGX 100,000 costs UGX 1,200. Withdrawing UGX 100,000 costs UGX 3,800. If the person you are paying has a mobile money wallet, send the money instead of handing over cash.
Band edges: where one shilling costs you more
- UGX 30,000 costs UGX 1,320. UGX 30,001 costs UGX 1,760.
- UGX 45,000 costs UGX 1,760. UGX 45,001 costs UGX 2,200.
- UGX 60,000 costs UGX 2,200. UGX 60,001 costs UGX 3,300.
Other Airtel Money charges and limits in Uganda
- Wallet to bank transfers cost UGX 700 for UGX 5,001 to 30,000, rising to UGX 11,300 for UGX 2,000,001 to 5,000,000.
- Free: balance checks, PIN changes, deposits, mini statements, buying airtime and data for yourself.
- Minimum transaction: UGX 500. Maximum transaction: UGX 5,000,000. Maximum wallet balance: UGX 20,000,000.
How to cut your Airtel Money charges in Uganda
- Send, do not withdraw, when the recipient has a wallet.
- Batch small cash-outs. A UGX 2,500 withdrawal pays the same UGX 330 fee as a UGX 500 one.
- Stop at the top of a band. UGX 60,000 and UGX 60,001 differ by UGX 1,100.
- Pay merchants and bills from the wallet. The 0.5% duty applies only to cash withdrawals.
Airtel Money vs MTN MoMo in Uganda
Both wallets pay the same 0.5% duty on withdrawals. For the MTN side, read the MTN MoMo fees Uganda 2026 guide or compare networks in the mobile money fees comparison.
Check your Airtel Money charges in Uganda before you cash out
Tariffs and taxes change. Run your amount through the free Airtel Money Charges Calculator at MetricSuite.tools to calculate this instantly, no signup required, then confirm the fee on *185# before you send or withdraw.
Key Takeaways
- Withdrawals cost Airtel’s banded fee (UGX 330 to UGX 18,000) plus 0.5% of the amount in excise duty.
- Sending costs UGX 100 to UGX 2,000, to Airtel or other networks. Receiving is free.
- A UGX 20,000 withdrawal loses 7.1% to fees and tax. A UGX 1,000,000 withdrawal loses 1.7%.
- Sending UGX 100,000 costs UGX 1,200. Withdrawing it costs UGX 3,800.
- Minimum transaction is UGX 500, maximum is UGX 5,000,000.
Tariffs last reviewed: September 2026.
FAQ
How much does Airtel Money charge to withdraw UGX 100,000 in Uganda?
UGX 3,300 to Airtel plus UGX 500 in 0.5% excise duty, about UGX 3,800 in total.
Is it free to receive money on Airtel Money Uganda?
Yes. Receiving money is free. Sending costs UGX 100 to UGX 2,000 depending on the amount.
Does sending money to MTN cost more than sending to Airtel?
No. Airtel’s tariff guide lists one sending table for Airtel and other networks.
Who pays the 0.5% tax on mobile money in Uganda?
The customer. It is 0.5% of the amount withdrawn, charged on top of the operator fee, and applies to cash withdrawals only.
What are the Airtel Money limits in Uganda?
Minimum transaction UGX 500, maximum transaction UGX 5,000,000, maximum wallet balance UGX 20,000,000.
Sources
- Airtel Uganda tariff guide, April 2025 edition (compiled by SenteGuide): https://senteguide.com/tariff-guides/airtel-money
- Airtel Money Uganda announcement of revised sending and withdrawal charges (June 2024): https://x.com/airtelmoneyug/status/1800842807911063764
- 0.5% excise duty on withdrawals, 2026 coverage: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/business/prosper/mobile-money-taxes-reverse-digital-financial-inclusion-5392494
- 0.5% charged on the amount withdrawn, not the fee: https://allafrica.com/stories/202604150126.html
- 2018 amendment limiting the duty to withdrawals: https://www.mfw4a.org/news/uganda-drops-some-mobile-money-taxes