Airtel Uganda, D.Light Uganda Limited Rollout Affordable 4G Smartphones through Hire Purchase Plans

Mukono 16th August 2022: Airtel Uganda in partnership with d.light Uganda Limited has today launched affordable Smartphones intended to extend access to the opportunities of the internet to many Ugandans. The announcement was made today at Dlight Uganda Limited-Service Centre in Mukono.

The new offer will enable individuals to access Smartphones on a hire purchase basis with an initial deposit, and then complete the payment in a period of 365 days, which payments are categorized into daily, weekly and monthly amounts.

Mr. Manoj Murali, the Managing Director Airtel Uganda said, “Our partnership with d.light Uganda Limited is timely and will enable more people to access the opportunities of the internet without having to pay upfront for the smartphones.”

He added, “Today, Smartphones are like minicomputers that allow individuals to conduct online businesses. In addition, the device possesses numerous uses and benefits, gradually, these have driven the growth of different sectors in Uganda and globally. We have a duty to extend these possibilities to many Ugandans because they break the barriers to digital inclusion”

The Smart phones under this offer include Nokia, Samsung and Tecno phones. To purchase any of these phones, customers will be required to make an initial deposit (a fraction of the cost of the phone), and complete their payment by making daily, weekly, bimonthly, monthly, and quarterly payments. Whichever suits their financial capability.

In 2021, GSMA, a global association that represents the interests of mobile network operators with over 750 members released a report that highlighted that Uganda had a smartphone adoption of 16%, marked lower than the 30% average for Sub-Saharan Africa.

“The 2021 GSMA report on Smartphone penetration in Uganda presents an opportunity for Airtel Uganda and other sector players to design and introduce products that are affordable so that more Ugandans can access these services, which will change the way people do business, connect, study, and socialise. We are happy to provide that connection,” Murali added.

Douglas Gavala, Managing Director at, d.light Uganda Limited. “We welcome the partnership with Airtel Uganda which I believe will go a long way in increasing Smartphone penetration in Uganda and across the region, since communication is a key driver of development as it enables businesses to operate effectively and families to connect with their loved ones.”

“d.light Uganda Limited takes pride, in aiding social transformation by collaborating with partners like Airtel Uganda to offer solution-based products and services that improve the livelihood of our people.” Gavala, d.light Uganda MD concluded.

d.light is a global leader in social transformation by making trans-formative products available and affordable to low-income families. Most of the customers they serve don’t have access to reliable power or financing, and d.light removes those barriers. They enable reliable power through our solar energy solutions and enable financing with our Pay As You Go technology. d.light has sold over 25 million products including solar lanterns, solar home systems, TVs, radios and smartphones, impacting the lives of over 125 million people.

Airtel Africa Limited is a Pan-African telecommunications company with operations in 14 countries across Africa. Airtel Africa is driven by the vision of providing affordable and innovative mobile services to all and is supported in pursuing this vision by its largest shareholder, Bharti Airtel.

Its product offerings include 2G, 3G and 4G wireless voice and data services and mobile commerce through ‘Airtel Money’. Airtel Africa had over 97 million customers across its operations at the end of December 2018.