KAMPALA — Fort Portal Central Division Member of Parliament Hon. Ronald Muhenga has used a parliamentary oversight meeting to raise concerns about the security of customers’ money on mobile money platforms, calling for stronger protection against transactions made without proper authorisation.
Speaking during a COSASE meeting with mobile money operators and Haba Group officials, Muhenga said his intervention was informed by the need to protect ordinary Ugandans who rely on mobile money in their daily lives.
Muhenga, who introduced himself as a representative of the people of Fort Portal Central Division, questioned how a customer’s money could be withdrawn without the customer entering their PIN.
He asked the responsible service providers to clarify the circumstances surrounding such transactions and stressed that any transaction carried out without the required security authentication should be properly investigated.
“There is no transaction that touches the customer that can be done without a PIN,” Muhenga said in his submission.
He further noted that, under the normal security process, a person should not be able to withdraw or transfer money from another customer’s wallet without the necessary authentication.
Putting Customers at the Centre
Muhenga’s submission brought the concerns of ordinary mobile money users directly into the parliamentary discussion, particularly those who depend on mobile money to send, receive and keep their money.
His message was centred on a simple principle: customers should have confidence that their money is secure and that any unusual transaction affecting their funds can be traced and investigated.
Rather than simply raising a concern, Muhenga called for clarity on how such transactions could occur and for appropriate investigations where a customer’s funds appear to have been accessed without the expected security procedure.
A Voice for the People
For residents of Fort Portal Central Division, the intervention puts their representative at the centre of an important consumer-protection conversation.
As mobile money continues to play a major role in everyday financial transactions, Muhenga’s submission highlights the importance of secure systems, accountability and protection of customers’ funds.
His message to the people he represents was clear: when ordinary citizens raise concerns about the safety of their money, those concerns deserve to be heard, explained and addressed.
