By Jumah Kakomo
M-KOPA Uganda has introduced new customer benefits under its More Than a Phone platform, aimed at rewarding customers who complete payments for their devices while making smartphone upgrades more affordable and accessible.
Speaking to the media on Thursday, M-KOPA Uganda General Manager Brendah Nambalirwa Tzadok said the new initiatives are designed to recognise customer loyalty and improve access to digital and financial services.
Among the newly introduced benefits is a discount on the next purchase, which allows eligible customers to upgrade to newer smartphones at discounted prices through the M-KOPA app.
The company has also launched a Phone Swap (Trade-in) programme, enabling eligible customers to exchange their current devices for newer models without paying an upfront deposit. According to Nambalirwa, the new offerings simplify the upgrade process while reducing the financial burden on customers.
The event also marked the relaunch of M-KOPA Care, the company’s embedded health insurance programme, which now offers enhanced medical benefits at no additional cost to eligible customers.
In partnership with Turaco, M-KOPA has introduced a new outpatient medical cover alongside its existing hospital cash benefit.
Under the revised package, eligible customers will receive hospital cash benefits of up to UGX 750,000, calculated at UGX 25,000 per night for a maximum of 30 nights following admission to any Ministry of Health-accredited hospital.
Customers will also be eligible for outpatient cover of up to UGX 100,000 per loan period, which caters for medical treatment, services and supplies arising from illness or accidents at registered health facilities. Both benefits are available under a monthly premium of UGX 1,300.
To access the insurance benefits, customers are required to notify Turaco within 30 days of the medical event via phone call or WhatsApp and submit the necessary supporting documents. Valid claims are processed and paid through mobile money within three working days.
“A medical emergency should not derail a family’s financial progress. M-KOPA Care is our commitment that staying healthy and staying financially resilient are not competing priorities for our customers,” Nambalirwa said.
She added that M-KOPA Uganda will continue investing in innovative financial solutions that enable more Ugandans to participate fully in the digital economy.
During the event, the company also announced that it has unlocked more than UGX 1 trillion in cumulative credit for over one million Ugandan customers since commencing operations in 2013.
According to the company, the milestone reflects the trust customers have placed in M-KOPA over the past decade and demonstrates the potential of innovative financial models to extend credit access to individuals who have traditionally been excluded from formal financial services.
