Uganda's New KYC Platform Aims to Curb Digital Fraud and Boost Security
Creditinfo has launched a new identity, KYC, and fraud prevention platform in Uganda. The solution aims to tackle rising financial crime in the country's fast-growing digital economy. Local businesses will now have stronger tools to verify identities, detect fraud, and comply with anti-money laundering (AML) regulations.
Over the past five years, Uganda's digital payment sector has expanded rapidly. Mobile money services like MTN MoMo and Airtel Money have doubled transaction volumes to over 20 trillion Ugandan shillings (UGX) annually by 2025. However, this growth has also led to increased fraud, with losses reaching around 100 billion UGX in 2024 alone.
The platform is designed specifically for Uganda's market, addressing local risks such as SIM-swap attacks, phishing, and unauthorised transactions. It uses credit bureau data, government records, and advanced device intelligence to verify identities during customer onboarding. The system also monitors transactions in real time, flagging suspicious activity and detecting mule accounts.
Mark Mwanje, Managing Director at Creditinfo Uganda, explained that the tool helps businesses fight fraud while promoting financial inclusion. It also ensures compliance with Uganda's stricter AML and know-your-customer (KYC) rules, which now include biometric verification. Rob Meakin, Director of Fraud and Identity at Creditinfo, added that the solution balances risk management with a smooth customer experience.
The technology has already proven effective in Kenya as part of Creditinfo's broader programme to strengthen financial security. It detects authorised push payment (APP) fraud, prevents account takeovers, and identifies application fraud. By combining multiple data sources, the platform reduces false positives and improves fraud detection accuracy.
The launch follows Uganda's push for tighter financial regulations after rising fraud cases. Businesses using the platform can now verify customers more securely while meeting compliance standards. The solution is expected to reduce financial losses and support the country's expanding digital economy.
