By : News Editor

Wendi, the mobile wallet operated by Pearl Bank Uganda, has won the Financial Inclusion Impact Award at the 2026 FITSPA Industry Awards for its contribution to expanding access to affordable and inclusive digital financial services across Uganda.

The award recognises Wendi’s efforts to bring more Ugandans into the formal financial system through accessible digital services, including money transfers, bill payments, merchant payments and savings.

Wendi customers can send and receive money, pay bills, make merchant payments at selected fuel stations and access Western Union services directly through the wallet, enabling convenient domestic and international money transfers. The platform also offers a savings proposition through which customers can earn interest of up to 12.5 percent per annum, according to the company.

The awards were organised by the Financial Technology Service Providers Association (FITSPA) as part of the 2026 World FinTech Day celebrations, held under the theme, “The Next Decade of Fintech: Infrastructure, Interoperability, and Trust for Inclusive Growth.”

The winners were announced on Friday, July 31, 2026, during the World FinTech Day Uganda event held at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel.

Commenting on the award, Brenda Mpoora, Head of Fintech Business at Pearl Bank, said the recognition demonstrates the impact Wendi is making in reducing barriers to financial services.“Wendi was created to simplify access to financial services for Ugandans. “This recognition speaks to the progress we are making in removing barriers and delivering solutions that are fast, accessible and reliable to our customers. It is also a reflection of our continued effort to drive financial inclusion by leveraging technology to reach more people and enable meaningful participation in the economy,” Mpoora said.

She added that Wendi continues to introduce initiatives aimed at making digital transactions more affordable and convenient for customers.

“Wendi has an ongoing fuel campaign where customers can purchase fuel with zero transaction fees. All these efforts are aimed at enabling digital financial inclusion, allowing customers to transact anywhere and at any time,” she said.

The FITSPA Industry Awards recognise organisations and innovators contributing to the development of Uganda’s fintech ecosystem through innovation, accessibility and digital trust.

The latest award adds to a growing list of accolades received by Wendi, including the Fintech Partnership Award 2025 at the Annual Bankers Awards, Best Digital Wallet Award at the 2025 Africa Fintech and AI Awards, the Banking Innovation Excellence Award at the 2024 HiPipo Digital Impact Awards Africa, and the Gold Award for Best Customer Experience at the 2023 Silverbacks Awards.

About Wendi Mobile Wallet

Launched in November 2023, Wendi is Pearl Bank Uganda’s mobile wallet designed to provide secure, convenient and affordable financial services, particularly to underserved and last-mile customers.

The platform enables customers to save, send and receive money, make payments and manage group savings. Wendi currently serves more than one million customers and operates through a network of more than 13,000 agents across Uganda.

Wendi is available through the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, as well as via USSD by dialing *229#.

Through partnerships with the Government of Uganda, Wendi has also supported the implementation of public programmes, including the payment of Parish Development Model (PDM) funds to beneficiaries and the disbursement of relief funds to victims of the Bududa landslides.

These partnerships, the company says, are part of efforts to promote financial inclusion and increase access to formal financial services among Ugandans.

About Pearl Bank Uganda

Pearl Bank Uganda has a heritage spanning more than 28 years. Its journey dates back to 1926, when it operated as a Post Office Savings Department, before evolving into PostBank Uganda Limited, a government-owned institution established to expand access to affordable savings and credit services.

In 2023, the bank embarked on a five-year strategic plan aligned with its “Grow. Prosper.” tagline and its purpose of fostering prosperity for Ugandans.

The bank is a limited liability company incorporated under the Companies Act in 1998 and is wholly owned by the Government of Uganda. Pearl Bank is a fully-fledged commercial bank with 59 branches and more than 8,000 agents countrywide. Its services are complemented by the Pearl Bank App, Pearl Online and smart ATMs