Digital Inclusion on the Move: How Fuel Payments Could Bring the Unbanked into Uganda’s Financial System
Kampala, Uganda
In Uganda, the road to financial inclusion has often run through mobile phones and village savings groups. Now, it’s reaching the fuel pump. With the recent partnership between Pearl Bank Limited (formerly Post Bank Uganda) and TotalEnergies Uganda, paying for petrol has become more than just a transaction—it’s becoming a bridge to digital finance for millions who have long remained outside the formal banking system.
From the Pump to the Wallet
Through Pearl Bank’s Wendi digital-payment platform, motorists can now buy fuel at TotalEnergies stations using digital cards or wallet balances linked directly to their mobile phones. For the average boda-boda rider or small-fleet operator, that means a chance to open and use a regulated digital account—often for the first time.
“Every time someone uses Wendi at a fuel station, they are entering the formal financial space,” explained Ms. Aisha Nsubuga, Head of Digital Banking at Pearl Bank. “They can save, receive payments, and build a digital record that opens doors to credit.”
This shift transforms a routine activity—refueling—into an entry point for inclusion. Uganda’s FinScope 2023 survey estimates that about 5.3 million adults remain financially excluded. By embedding digital payments in everyday consumption, Pearl Bank is bringing the idea of inclusion down to street level.
Meeting Customers Where They Are
Fuel stations serve a wide demographic: motorists, taxi drivers, truckers, and riders. Many of these are self-employed and operate in the informal sector where cash dominates.
By linking payments to the Wendi wallet, customers who might never visit a bank branch can now transact safely, store value, and access micro-services such as savings or loans.
“It’s inclusion through habit,” said financial-technology analyst Sarah Kagolo. “If people use a digital wallet every week for fuel, adoption becomes organic. That’s how financial literacy and trust grow.”
The partnership also benefits attendants and fuel-station agents. Cashless payments reduce handling errors and risks while improving reconciliation—an important gain for a sector managing thousands of small daily transactions.
Building a Digital Footprint
Beyond convenience, Wendi creates digital transaction trails. Over time, these records can help small-business owners and transport operators qualify for micro-credit or insurance products.
Pearl Bank has hinted that it will analyze anonymized wallet data (with consent) to design affordable credit for regular users.
“Data tells the story of capability,” noted Mr. Julius Kakeeto, Managing Director of Pearl Bank Limited. “Our goal is to translate that story into access—so that digital activity becomes a stepping stone to empowerment.”
Supporting the National Inclusion Agenda
Uganda’s National Financial Inclusion Strategy (2023–2028) prioritizes low-cost digital payment systems and agent networks to reach underserved populations. The Wendi-TotalEnergies model directly complements that mission by transforming over 200 service stations into potential digital-finance touchpoints.
The collaboration also echoes Bank of Uganda’s National Payment Systems Act (2020), which promotes interoperability between banks, telecoms, and fintechs.
“This partnership demonstrates what the policy envisioned—a connected ecosystem where financial and retail services work hand in hand,” said Dr. Henry Obua, a digital-finance consultant in Kampala.
The Road Ahead
Pearl Bank plans to integrate additional features into Wendi, such as loyalty rewards, bill payments, and group savings (“digital SACCOs”). Combined with TotalEnergies’ nationwide reach, this could redefine how ordinary Ugandans interact with money.
Digital inclusion, it turns out, might not arrive through smartphones alone—but through the simple act of fueling a car or motorcycle.
“For every driver who pays digitally today,” Ms. Nsubuga added, “we’re one step closer to a fully inclusive financial Uganda.”
