KAMPALA, Uganda — Wendi, the innovative digital wallet developed by PostBank Uganda, has officially disbursed an astounding UGX 1 trillion (about $260 million USD) to beneficiaries of the government’s Parish Development Model (PDM). This significant achievement marks a pivotal moment in Uganda’s ongoing drive for deeper financial inclusion, particularly at the grassroots level.
“We received about UGX 500 billion in January this year. As we speak, 100% of that money has been disbursed to all the parish SACCO group accounts, and more than 90% has already reached the individual beneficiaries,” said George William Kiyingi, PostBank’s Head of Agent Banking and Fintech Distribution, in a recent interview. He further added, “We got another UGX 500 billion at the beginning of June and all of that has been dispatched from the bank.”
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According to Kiyingi, Wendi has fundamentally transformed how rural Ugandans access financial services. “Before Wendi, beneficiaries had to travel long distances — sometimes from Nakapiripirit to Moroto or from Pallisa to Mbale — just to open bank accounts,” he explained. “Now, all you need is a national ID and a phone, and you’re registered in minutes.” Since 2024, the platform has successfully onboarded over 1.3 million PDM beneficiaries, a number that continues to grow steadily.
Ensuring Transparency and Financial Governance
A critical element of Wendi’s success is its seamless integration with the Parish Development Management Information System (PDMIS), the government’s centralized digital platform for managing PDM loan applications and approvals. “Since February 2024, before any disbursement happens on Wendi, the system automatically checks with PDMIS to verify whether the loan has been approved. If it hasn’t been cleared in PDMIS, the payment fails,” Kiyingi detailed. This crucial integration ensures transparency, accountability, and prevents disbursement errors.
Wendi also bolsters financial governance at the SACCO (Savings and Credit Cooperative Organization) level. Each group account is under the joint control of three leaders — a chairperson, secretary, and treasurer — requiring their unanimous approval for any transaction. “If even one doesn’t approve, the transaction is rejected,” Kiyingi emphasized, ensuring robust oversight and preventing misuse of funds.
Fostering Savings and Future Growth
Beyond facilitating disbursements, Wendi actively promotes a culture of saving and simplifies loan repayment. “We offer up to 10% annual interest on savings made through Wendi,” Kiyingi noted, highlighting the incentive designed to encourage Ugandans to save.
PostBank intends to offer follow-on loans via Wendi for beneficiaries who successfully repay their initial PDM loans. “We want to move people from subsistence to sustainability,” Kiyingi affirmed, viewing Wendi as more than just a payment channel but a powerful tool for lasting economic empowerment. PostBank’s ultimate goal is to expand Wendi’s reach across every corner of Uganda, ensuring no one is left behind in the country’s evolving financial ecosystem.
