Ensibuuko

The company

Ensibuuko is a fintech that promotes the adoption of digital financial products and improving access to mobile devices and services in rural areas.

Problem

Savings groups in rural Uganda tend to rely on paper record-keeping and analogue systems that are unconnected to the larger financial ecosystem. Savings groups lack knowledge of relevant digital products and services and the skills required to use them, which are major barriers for rural customers to adopt internet services.

GSMA Project

In March 2021, Ensibuuko received a GSMA grant to develop a digital skills training kit for local rural customers that leveraged its network of digital field agents to deliver the digital literacy training to village savings groups in various rural locations.

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In April 2024, Ensibuuko received an additional GSMA grant to create an Android banking app with mobile money product offerings, such as bill payments, fund transfers and access to loans.

Outcomes

Established strategic partnerships with MTN Uganda and Airtel to integrate mobile money services. The partnership with MTN includes reverse billing for internet data and allows users to always be connected.
Developed credit scoring and access to digital loans for VSLA members, enabling them to borrow outside their savings pool. Ensibuuko has replicated this model in Tanzania, Malawi, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.

Traction

• As of March 2024, more than 3,900 VSLAs with 239,000 members have received digital literacy training.

• As of January 2025, more than 149,000 members of savings and credit cooperative organisations (SACCO) access financial services via USSD (97%) or the Android app (93%).