Mobile Money Integration Uganda: MTN MoMo & Airtel Money Developer Guide 2026

Mobile money is the backbone of digital payments in Uganda. MTN MoMo and Airtel Money process billions of shillings in transactions daily. This guide covers everything developers need to integrate mobile money into their applications.

MTN MoMo API Integration

MTN MoMo API allows developers to collect payments, disburse funds, and check balances programmatically. You need to register as a developer on the MTN MoMo portal, get API credentials (user ID, API key, subscription key), and implement the OAuth 2.0 authentication flow.

Key MTN MoMo API Endpoints

• Collection: POST /collection/v1_0/requesttopay — request payment from a customer
• Disbursement: POST /disbursement/v1_0/transfer — send money to a recipient
• Balance: GET /collection/v1_0/account/balance — check account balance
• Transaction status: GET /collection/v1_0/requesttopay/{referenceId} — check payment status

Airtel Money API Integration

Airtel Money API offers similar functionality — collections, disbursements, and balance checks. The authentication uses API keys and requires merchant registration through Airtel Uganda.

Best Practices for Mobile Money Integration

• Always implement webhook callbacks for payment confirmations — don't rely on polling.
• Use unique reference IDs for each transaction to avoid duplicates.
• Handle network timeouts gracefully — Uganda's connectivity can be unreliable.
• Log all transactions for audit and reconciliation purposes.
• Implement retry logic with exponential backoff for failed requests.

How DeryCode Can Help

DeryCode has integrated MTN MoMo and Airtel Money into multiple projects including SaccoWallet, DeryLoan, and Sageco Evergreen. We handle the full integration — from API registration to production deployment.

Contact DeryCode on WhatsApp +256 772 002 326 for mobile money integration.