Government and Bank of Uganda Launch Okusevinga — Africa’s First Government-Owned Unit Trust
Kampala, Uganda The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and the Bank of Uganda (BoU) have officially launched the pilot phase of the Okusevinga Money Market Unit Trust Scheme, a landmark investment initiative designed to broaden Ugandans’ access to regulated savings and investment opportunities.
Okusevinga — Africa’s first government-owned unit trust — aims to shift the focus from merely expanding access to financial services to enabling meaningful participation in long-term savings and investment. The scheme will allow individuals to invest small amounts via a mobile-based platform directly into professionally managed money market and bond funds. The pilot phase, which began on December 17, involves a limited group of participants testing systems for registration, investment transactions, and mobile balance inquiries to ensure security, compliance, and usability before a full public rollout in 2026.
Deliberate integration of mobile technology seeks to leverage Uganda’s high financial inclusion rate — currently estimated at 81% of adults — while bridging gaps in long-term savings behavior among households that traditionally save informally.
Officials say Okusevinga could help Ugandans build financial resilience, grow household wealth, and deepen domestic capital markets.
Why It Matters:
While mobile money has transformed financial access in Uganda, long-term investment opportunities have remained limited for many citizens — especially those outside formal banking. Okusevinga’s mobile-friendly design is intended to democratize investment, foster financial planning, and help households benefit from regulated markets previously accessible mainly to institutional investors.
What to Watch:
Results and feedback from the pilot validation process.
Timeline and criteria for general public access in early 2026.
Investor education campaigns and uptake statistics.
