Does PayPal Work with Mobile Money in Uganda? | PayPal Uganda

Mobile money has revolutionized financial transactions across Uganda, providing a convenient and accessible way for people to send, receive, and store money through their mobile phones. In Uganda, two of the most popular mobile money wallets are MTN Mobile Money and Airtel Money. These services have become essential for both personal and business transactions, especially in areas where access to traditional banking is limited. However, for those who wish to use PayPal in Uganda, the integration with mobile money remains a key question. Let’s explore the relationship between PayPal and mobile money in Uganda and the possible workarounds available for Ugandans.

What Are Mobile Money Wallets in Uganda?

In Uganda, mobile money services are predominantly provided by:

MTN Mobile Money: Offered by MTN Uganda, this service allows users to send and receive money, pay bills, buy airtime, and more using their mobile phones. It is one of the most widely used mobile money platforms in Uganda.
Airtel Money: A similar service provided by Airtel Uganda, allowing users to perform various financial transactions using their mobile phones. It’s the second-largest mobile money platform in the country.

These services have become the backbone of Uganda’s cashless economy, especially in rural areas where traditional banking services are either scarce or unavailable. However, despite their widespread use, they do not have direct integrations with PayPal, posing challenges for Ugandans who wish to use PayPal for international transactions.

Does PayPal Work Directly with Mobile Money in Uganda?

The short answer is No. PayPal does not work directly with mobile money services like MTN Mobile Money or Airtel Money in Uganda. This means that users cannot withdraw or deposit money from PayPal directly into their mobile money wallets. While mobile money is a common method of transacting within Uganda, PayPal’s global network has not established a direct partnership with mobile money services in the country.

PayPal and Mpesa in Kenya: A Workaround

Though PayPal Uganda doesn’t integrate with Ugandan mobile money services, it does work directly with Mpesa, a mobile money service in Kenya offered by Safaricom. Through a partnership between PayPal and Mpesa, Kenyans can withdraw money from PayPal to their Mpesa accounts via the official PayPal-Mpesa portal: PayPal-Mpesa portal.

Many Ugandans take advantage of this workaround by traveling to Kenya to get a Safaricom Mpesa line, which they can then link to PayPal. Once PayPal funds are withdrawn to Mpesa, they can transfer the money to Uganda’s mobile money wallets such as MTN Mobile Money or Airtel Money.

This indirect process allows Ugandans to access PayPal withdrawal services via Kenya, making Mpesa a valuable solution for Ugandans looking to withdraw PayPal funds. While this method requires a Kenyan Safaricom line, it is a reliable option for those who regularly deal with international payments.

Using Third-Party Apps: Chipper Cash and Eversend

In Uganda, you can also connect your mobile money to PayPal through third-party services such as Chipper Cash and Eversend. These mobile apps provide virtual cards that can be used for online transactions, including linking to PayPal for sending money. Here’s how these services work:

Chipper Cash: A popular mobile payments app in Uganda and across Africa. It offers virtual cards that can be linked to PayPal, enabling Ugandans to send money through PayPal. However, Chipper Cash does not provide the option to withdraw money from PayPal into your mobile money wallet.
Eversend: Similar to Chipper Cash, Eversend allows users to create virtual cards that can be used for online purchases and linked to PayPal. While this connection allows Ugandans to make payments via PayPal, it still does not solve the issue of withdrawing funds from PayPal to mobile money.

While these third-party services provide a convenient way to send money via PayPal, they do not offer a solution for withdrawing funds from PayPal to Uganda’s mobile money platforms. This makes it necessary for Ugandans to explore other alternatives, such as using Kenyan Mpesa lines.

How Ugandans Withdraw from PayPal Using Mpesa or Webvator Services

Since withdrawing PayPal funds directly to mobile money in Uganda is not possible, many Ugandans opt for one of the following two methods:

Using Mpesa Lines from Kenya: As mentioned earlier, many Ugandans travel to Kenya to obtain a Safaricom Mpesa line. Once they have linked their PayPal account to Mpesa, they can withdraw funds via the official PayPal-Mpesa portal. After receiving the money in Mpesa, they can easily transfer it to their Ugandan mobile money accounts.
Webvator Withdrawal Services in Kampala: Another option available to Ugandans is using services like Webvator, based in Kampala. Webvator provides a withdrawal service that helps Ugandans access their PayPal funds and transfer them to local mobile money accounts. This is a practical solution for those who don’t want to travel to Kenya but need to withdraw money from PayPal in Uganda.

Although PayPal Uganda doesn’t work directly with mobile money services in Uganda, there are several workarounds that Ugandans use to access PayPal’s services. One common method is obtaining a Safaricom Mpesa line from Kenya, which allows for PayPal withdrawals via Mpesa. Once funds are in Mpesa, they can be transferred to Uganda’s mobile money wallets like MTN Mobile Money and Airtel Money. Alternatively, third-party apps like Chipper Cash and Eversend offer ways to send money via PayPal but do not support withdrawals.

For those looking for a simple and reliable withdrawal service in Uganda, Webvator offers withdrawal solutions, enabling Ugandans to access their PayPal funds and transfer them to mobile money accounts without the need to travel to Kenya.