Well, it’s now easier to block your stolen Airtel SIM card by utilizing the new *100# menu that offers quick access to all Airtel services. In case you frighten on the decision to block your SIM card, here are 5 reasons as to why you should block access to it before replacement.

• Easy SIM card replacements/swap: Once you block your Airtel SIM card, it will be easy to swap and replace the card since it will no longer be active. This as well will lead to shorter times of getting your new card to work after swap.

• Security Concerns: Stolen SIM cards can be used to access sensitive information, such as online accounts and bank details. This is simple to achieve since the SIM holder will click the Forgot Password prompt and access any of your accounts.

• Protect your Personal Information: A SIM Card stores information both locally on the SIM storage, and online through the services such as Airtel Money, and more. Consider your contacts and text messages gone, but non-local data can be saved by blocking the card.

• Prevent Unauthorized Charges: Stolen SIM cards are used to make unauthorized calls, borrow money, and send text messages. Incurring charges on your account will force Airtel to bill you on any other SIM card registered in your names.

• Protect Your Reputation: Your SIM card can be used to send spam messages and make unauthorized calls. This will damage your reputation and professional relationships. Blocking the stolen SIM card can prevent this kind of damage.

Block your Stolen Airtel SIM card

First, to block your stolen SIM card, be sure its registered in your names as a basic rule. This will save you time when approving the process, and a good ethics behavior since you will not be attacking someone else’s peace by limiting their access to the SIM. Hence, to block your SIM, follow the steps below.

1. Dial *100#
2. Select option 9 (My Account).
3. Select option 3 (Block Stolen sim/Number).
4. Enter the SIM card number (phone number) to block.
5. Enter the Airtel Money PIN of the number to block. (To verify you own it)
6. If you enter the correct PIN, the number is blocked immediately.
7. DONE: To confirm that your number is blocked successfully, call the customer care helpline 100, and ask an agent to inquire whether your SIM card number is blocked.

In conclusion, if you choose to block your stolen Airtel SIM card in Uganda, this is the best decision you can do to avoid fraudsters from using this small window of chance to make a fine amount of money using your identity. For the best window of chance, block your Airtel SIM card upon confirming that it’s stolen.

This rise in mobile money usage has now forced providers to avail more on-demand services that customers can access through any of the designated shortcodes. Airtel Wewole in particular is a money lending service that allows the red telco’s customers to borrow money and payback after 30days at a 9% interest rate.

The service is similar to MTN Uganda’s Mokash service which allows customers to save and borrow money, then pay back later at a 9% interest rate that increases in case a customer delays to pay back in time. But unlike Mokash, with Airtel Wewole customers can’t save or keep money in a dedicated wallet.

So, as Wewole translates to “Borrow” in a Ugandan local language tense (Luganda), the service only gives customers the power to borrow money and pay back later after 28 days. By standard, the service does not require any paperwork or initial savings balance for a customer to apply for a loan.

Instead, Wewole relies on a customer’s Airtel Money usage statistics to suggest the best loan limit possible. If a customer uses Airtel Money to send and receive money, transact online with virtual master cards or pay utility bills like UMEME Yaka, Water, and PayTV, it’s the more his/her Airtel Wewole loan limit will increase to new highs with a constant interest rate per approved loan.

How to borrow money using Airtel Money Wewole

In presence of the My Airtel App, the only way you can borrow cash with Airtel Wewole is through the telco’s dedicated *185# shortcode on your phone’s dial pad. Once dialled, you will then be able to select Wewole as a standalone service, and here is how you will actually apply for an instant loan.

1. Dial *185#
2. Then, Select Option 8 (Wewole)
3. Now, choose option 1 (Get a loan) to apply for an instant loan 
4. You will be presented with your current loan limit
5. Enter the amount of money you wish to borrow
6. Then, enter your Airtel account PIN
7. DONE: once Airtel approves your loan amount, money will be deposited on your Airtel Account.

How to payback an Airtel Wewole Loan

Once you receive an Airtel Wewole loan, you are required to repay back the full amount with full interest fees in a period of 28days. In case you delay in repaying the loan, Airtel may hike the payable interest fees until you clear the owed loan amount to Zero balance. However, no amount will be deducted from your Airtel Money account without your approval until you redial *185# to access the Wewole menu.

1. To pay an Airtel Wewole loan, Dial *185#
2. Then select option 8 (Wewole)
3. On the submenu, select Pay loan (Option 2)
4. Then choose between paying the full pending amount, or enter an amount to deduct from your account
5. DONE: Enter Your Airtel Money PIN to approve your loan re-payment.

During an e-meeting with the Airtel managing director V.G Somasekhar, the UCC Executive Director Ms. Irene Kaggwa Sewakambo noted that the telco’s connectivity has shifted from just a communication service to an engine of development.

In the light of the 4th Industrial revolution, Sewakambo acknowledged the Increase in Airtel’s network masts as a key contribution to the country’s development streak on top of enhancing customer experiences.

Having launched full countrywide 4G connectivity, Airtel Uganda has stepped up from regular 3G support to 4G by encouraging customers to swap old Simcard with new 4G enabled versions.

With 2,000 masts mounted countrywide, Airtel’s network coverage is expected to spike higher in the shadow of customer complaints about the telco’s Internet quality even though UCC rated it as the fastest in Uganda.

UCC carried out its quality of service (QoS) network investigations in major towns across Uganda and Airtel was voted as the fastest with its bullish peak at 14Mbps achieved in Mityana and Soroti in the shadow of MTN and Africell following with lower speeds.

However, MTN then received an International recognition from Rhode & Schwarz as the fastest Mobile network provider in Uganda binding quality network speeds with full coverage contrary to the commission’s findings.

But with 2,000 masts now holding the Airtel Access Point Name (APN), the telco could soon prove the highest network performance status granted to its by UCC against other mobile network providers in Uganda including Africell and MTN.

MTN, Airtel, Glo, and Vodafone are the dominant service providers in Ghana and the news making rounds on Social Media, sound with bits of the country’s Communications Minister’s new order to end the data and voice bundles expiry streak.

Hon. URSULA OWUSU-EKUFUL__The Minister of Communications stretched her order as an insight to end the telecoms’-to-subscriber direct tax and not just a reflection of the percentage paid to the tax authority.

Network operators have not been passing on the communication service tax (CST) to subscribers, but instead take advantage of the 3% increase to pass on the entire tax to subscribers. This has effectively increased their profit margins at the expense of subscribers

Part of the official letter to network operators read

As a popular norm in many countries, the tax authorities like URA in Uganda only charge Network operators and not direct subscribers. But according to the letter by Hon Ursula, telcos had resorted to shifting their tax burdens to subscribers, something that has provoked new twists.

To minize the negative impact of the current mode of deduction of the CST, the Ministry of communications hereby directs the immediate implementetation of the follow measures

The letter further read

Though Subscribers across Africa have addressed the new policy by Ghana as a learning point to their service providers like those in Uganda.

The fate of such a policy lies in the hands of tax authorities that have the might to determine subscriber rates and bundle timeframes. Nonetheless, here is a sniff of the full letter issued to telcos in Ghana.

Telcos directed to stop cha… by myjoyonline.com on Scribd

So, sending a call me back message to someone you wish to contact is an essential move you’d always want to pull off. Airtel kickstarted the journey which was later borrowed by MTN to make it easy for customers to receive and make calls.

Among the few reasons why you’d send a call me back could be requesting for airtime to make direct calls. As a matter of fact, once you visit a remote village, your only hopes of getting airtime are through someone in town. So, here is how you can always send a call me back message on either Airtel or MTN in Uganda.

Sending a Call me Back Message on Airtel

In order to send a call me back on Airtel, your SIMcard needs to be fully registered and must have been active for the past 3 months. Once your SIMcard meets these rules, then you can go ahead and send a call me back message to an Airtel number using the following shortcode.

• Dial *100*7*7* PHONE NUMBER #
• Or Dial *100# and Select Option 7 (My Account)
• Select Option 7 (Call me back)
• Then enter an Airtel number to send a call me back message
• DONE: Your Call me back message will be sent

Sending a Call me Back Message on MTN

MTN is the most used telecom in Uganda with over 11 million Ugandans relying on the network for calls and Internet. However, MTN has a cap of up to 6 call me back messages daily, and here is how you can send a call me back message.

• Dial *160*7*5* MTN NUMBER #
• Or Dial *160*7*5#
• Enter an MTN Number to send a call me back message
• DONE: You can send up to 6 call me back messages daily

A 10% airtime increase now means that a scratch card of Shs1,000 is sold at Shs1,100, the one of Shs2,000 costs Shs2,200 and the one worth Shs10,000 goes for Shs11,000. However, similar to other tax structure opposition, customers have again blasted the new taxes online in a bid for change in the pricing structure as new hashtags #NotoSocialmediatax and #ThisTaxmustgo continue to trend in Uganda.

The fate of scratch cards in Uganda

Telecommunication companies including MTN and Airtel together with Africell have for the past few weeks encouraged users to purchase airtime using digital methods for simplicity. The MOMO Nyabo promotion is as a result of this digital movement that is aimed at phasing out physical airtime cards in Uganda.

In a bid to avoid the 10% tax imposed on airtime scratch cards. You can buy airtime through alternative digital means like Payway, Pebuu, Easypay or more convenient methods you can choose from. Nevertheless, scratch cards have always been dangerous from the start when scratched with bare fingers to the skin.

“With countrywide 3G broadband, reliable 4G connection and affordable data bundles, we are bringing opportunities and passions closer to Ugandans. Thanks to our partnership with Kweseiflix Ugandans can have full-time access to football during the exciting World Cup season,” he noted.
The new KweseIflix mobile TV offers subscribers a chance to watch TV on-the-go regardless of location, time or whether or not they have an active TV package.

Airtel Uganda is providing a unique proposition to its customers, where one subscription gives them access to both Airtel’s discounted data bundles as well as content from Kwese Iflix (Two in one subscription through airtel money).  Kwese Iflixs amazing content offers include; live coverage for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia – and much more on Kwese Iflix’s world class platform with the best international, regional and local content programs, to stream or even download.

Below are the Airtel Uganda packages and prices for Mobile TV;

Airtel Special packs	Total Package Price – Content and Data ( UGX)	Validity
Kwese_1Daypass + 1GB	5000	1 Day
Kwese_3Daypass + 2GB	10000	3 Days
Kwese_7Daypass + 3GB	20000	7 Days
Kwese_30Daypass+12GB	55000	30 Days

To subscribe for Kwese Iflix and activate a Kwese data bundle, Airtel customers will have to dial *284*3# and select the pack of their choice.

To download the Kweseiflix app, Search for Iflix from Google play store (Android users) or from App store (iOS users)

• The Airtel Kwese special packs provide both content for KweseIflix as well as Data (two offers in one subscription)

• The Kwese data bundle provided is strictly for use on Kweseiflix app. It cannot be used to access other websites, YouTube, Facebook, google, etc. To view data volume: Dial *175*4#

• Once your Kwese data bundle is depleted before your validity expires, you can still use your normal data bundles to access KweseIflix VIP content

• If you have 2 data bundles running, Kwese data bundle will be utilized first for viewing kweseIflix content

• To view when your Kweseiflx content expires, go to the Iflix app, accounts and then subscription.

“Such milestones like the one Airtel has attained today is a confirmation what we have always encouraged innovative ICT development models” – Minister of ICT and National Guidance Hon Frank Tumwebaze was the chief guest of this highly articipated live 4G launch by Airtel and gave close remarks that showed every Ugandan would benefit from the highly articipated 4G connectivity,in his own words hailed airtel for being Uganda’s top network with very affordable rates and reliable connectivity and congratulated management together with the staff that have made the 4G dream come true.

According to Airtel Uganda’s Managing director Mr V.G Somasekhar,Subscribers will have an improved internet experience at the most affordable rates and the investment will further enable digital inclusion in Uganda,With such a statement it shows airtel relatively has big plans for its customers out their and is set to premier yet other big rewarding campaigns and services to all subscribers countrywide not leaving out the #megamassape promotion that rewarded many customers with big prizes ranging from cars and motorcycles as scheduled to end  on the 20th of september.

With this 4G LTE technology,Airtel Uganda’s fastest growing telecom is now offering subscribers around the country with the fastest available speeds as well as an improved experience in internet based activities such as video,mobile web access,Voip among others that are all set for the subscribers who will now have superb speeds just like any network in Uganda which put Airtel back to its top notch of having good internet speeds.

According to Mr Gilbert Assi the Vivo energy Managing director Airtel money shall be available across all 81 shell stations in the country, however when customers transact using Airtel money they stand a chance to win big prizes from shell raging from free airtime to shopping vouchers all bundled for subscribers who make their way to the station and transact with Uganda’s second largest mobile network. Furthermore subscribers will be able to purchase fuel and pay using Airtel money which is quite an amazing move to help customers from the hustle of having to withdraw their money first then pay by cash.

Airtel money has always been present at shell stations though not officially launched by vivo energy and thus it was only available on selected stations unlike this time where this service is going to be available on all shell stations country wide.
This leaves Airtel Uganda’s top competitor Mtn Uganda with a new move clue where we expect mtn mobile money to be launched on a rival station inorder to indirectly launch the same campaign similar to the shell-airtel launch.

Apart from Airtel money Vivo energy Uganda has always partnered with other companies to bring services closer to their customers since it would be frustrating for the customer to refuel but have to board a motorcycle in-order to ride to a nearest Atm machine and withdraw money then back to clear the outstanding payment, Atm machines,restaurants,shell select supermarkets among others are services that can be accessed by customers while they refuel at their favorite shell station with standard chartered being one of the top banks to establish Atm points evident at Shell Kiira road among other stations country wide.

Extra massape was the mother promotion which rewarded users with double data each time they recharged with airtel which extended this offer with a running exciting promotion dubbed the mega massape where customers had to be rewarded with big prizes as the culture states that each year airtel customers must be rewarded for using the making the network biggest in the nation taking down the top rival mtn Uganda which for long has been Uganda’s number 1 network beating Utl which was in the 90s one of Uganda’s most reliable networks for both voice and data.

My pakalast as service by the prominent airtel Uganda attracted more customers to this giant network since it provided them with voice,data and sms all in one single affordable package which varies per mobile number depending on the credit loading frequency by a user,furthermore mtn introduced a similar offer to its customers named My paka paka which was a clear indication that it had been copied from the original airtel offer that had not been publicized more through the media but rolled out later due to the stiff competition between these two giant networks in Uganda.

Eddy Kenzo was the guest of the 2nd last mega massape handover on Friday 15th September where customers were rewarded with motorcycles and lots of cash handed over by the airtel ambassador himself Eddy,furthermore he urged customers to participate in all airtel promotions and win big from the country’s fast growing giant network that is renown for rewarding its customers every year