Soumendra Sahu
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I Airtel Uganda has shifted its stance on mobile money fraud allegations after a week of mounting public pressure led by academic and activist Dr. Jimmy Spire Ssentongo through the viral #StopAirtelTheft campaign.
Earlier this month, Airtel dismissed social media claims that customers’ Airtel Money accounts were vulnerable to insider theft and hacking. In an August 6 statement, the company described the allegations—sparked by a theft incident involving Dr. Spire’s brother’s phone—as “misleading” and likely to cause unnecessary alarm. Airtel insisted its systems were “safe, secure, and regulated by the Bank of Uganda.”
However, the #StopAirtelTheft campaign quickly gained momentum, with hundreds of users sharing their own experiences of unexplained withdrawals, unauthorized loans, and suspected collusion by insiders. The growing public outcry forced the telecom giant to respond with a more conciliatory tone.
In a new statement dated August 15, Managing Director Soumendra Sahu acknowledged customers’ distress and thanked them for speaking out.
“Your voices matter to us, and we are truly grateful that you have taken the time to speak out… We are committed to learning from these moments so
we can serve you better,” Sahu wrote.
The company announced new technical measures, including an anti-spam alert service embedded in its network, aimed at detecting and preventing suspicious activity. Airtel also urged victims of fraud to come forward, promising to work closely with law enforcement to hold perpetrators accountable.
“We understand how upsetting it can be to lose a SIM card, especially when it’s tied to your personal data or finances,” further reads the statement, adding: “We are reviewing our processes to ensure better protection and accountability.”
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