Tech

Mastercard partners Uganda’s ICT Ministry to drive digital transformation

Published

10 months ago

March 5, 2024

Global payments network processor, Mastercard, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ugandan Ministry of ICT and National Guidance which seeks to accelerate digital transformation across the country.

According to Victor Ndlovu, Director and Business Development Lead for East Africa at Mastercard, the collaboration marks a significant milestone in the implementation of the ‘Digital Uganda Vision’, aimed at driving socio-economic development, enhancing services, and driving financial inclusion.

The partnership with Mastercard will provide technical assistance and expertise to support the Ugandan Government’s digitization and financial inclusion efforts, including the digitization of traditional services such as Posta Uganda, to capture new revenue flows and deliver integrated and convenient experiences for customers.

The signing of the MoU took place at the offices of the Ministry of ICT in Kampala, led by Hon. Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, Minister of ICT and National Guidance in Uganda, and Ndlovu, and is aligned with Uganda’s digital transformation goals laid out in their Digital Uganda Vision.

“This vision will empower Ugandan citizens striving to achieve the goals of universal inclusion, sustainable development, economic progress, and poverty eradication through digital innovation combining initiatives across multiple sectors,” Baryomunsi after the signing ceremony.

Ndlovu who spoke to journalists after the event, said the “vision aligns with Mastercard’s goal of enhancing financial inclusion by bringing one billion unbanked and underserved individuals into the digital economy by 2025, including empowering 50 million micro- and small merchants and supporting 25 million women-owned or led businesses.”

“One of the key focal areas of this partnership is to modernize Uganda’s digital payments ecosystem, making it more inclusive and accessible to micro and small merchants.

“These merchants will now have the tools they need to connect with the global digital economy and accept payments electronically, broadening their market reach and enhancing their contribution to Uganda’s economic growth.

“The initiative will also explore digital payment solutions as a gateway to support e-commerce platforms and e-government initiatives, therefore facilitating both domestic and cross-border transactions,” he said.

Related Topics:Featured MasterCard Ministry of ICT Uganda

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Tech

Kenya’s ticketing startup BuuPass partners Flexpay for flexible travel payments

Published

2 days ago

December 19, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Kenyan digital ticketing startup, BuuPass, has entered into a partnership with goal-based savings platform, Flexpay, to offer customers flexible payment plans ahead of holiday travels as well as simplify travel planning and ease the financial burden of holiday travel for Kenyans.

Co-founder and CEO at Buupass, Sonia Kabra, who unveiled the package at a press conference, said the collaboration between the two platforms will allow travellers to save for their journeys in manageable, interest-free installments over four to 12 weeks.

“Travelers can select their travel dates, book tickets, and pay a small deposit upfront, with the remaining balance spread across weekly or monthly payments,” she said.

“This approach offers a stress-free way for families and large groups to secure their tickets early, helping them avoid last-minute price hikes as fares are locked in.

“By partnering with Flexpay, we’re giving travelers the flexibility to budget for their trips in advance. This initiative aligns with our mission to make travel accessible to everyone, providing a solution that meets customers where they are financially,” said Kabra.

Also speaking at the event, Richard Machomba, CEO and founder of Flexpay, said:

“Flexpay’s mission is to empower individuals by providing accessible financial solutions that make it easier for them to achieve their financial goals.

“By partnering with BuuPass, we’re making travel more accessible and stress-free for Kenyans, especially during the holiday season when expenses can be overwhelming,” Machomba added.

Founded in 2016 by Kabra and Wyclife Omondi, BuuPass is a B2B2C mobility marketplace that enables users to search, compare, and book travel tickets via web, app, or USSD, while its SaaS platform helps bus operators manage their operations, inventory, and sales.

FlexPay, on the other hand, is an online and offline payment gateway that allows merchants to offer interest-free targeted savings to their customers in Africa.

Tech

DR Congo sues tech giant Apple over illegal mineral exploitation

Published

3 days ago

December 18, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has filed a criminal case against the European subsidiaries of tech giant, Apple, accusing them of illegal mineral exploitation and allegedly using “blood minerals” in its supply chain.

In the suit filed on Tuesday, the DRC alleges that Apple has bought contraband supplies from the country’s conflict-ladden east and Rwanda, zones in which it allege the materials are mined illegally and then integrated into global supply chains before ending up in tech devices.

The DRC suit specifically mentioned Apple subsidiaries in France and Belgium, accusing the tech giant of using conflict minerals in its supply chain.

The DRC is a major source of tin, tantalum, and tungsten which are used in electronic devices, with some mines controlled by armed groups responsible for human rights violations.

International lawyers representing the African country’s government have accused Apple’s local subsidiaries of taking these minerals from conflict areas and laundering them through international supply chains, with one lawyer telling journalists that Belgium had a moral duty to act given its history of exploiting the country’s resources under colonial rule.

However, in its response, Apple claims it conducts supplier audits and does not directly source primary minerals.

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1262670-dr-congo-sues-apple-over-alleged-illegal-mineral-exploitation