The Bank of Uganda (BoU) has announced a four-day suspension of key interbank money transfer systems to facilitate a planned upgrade of the country’s national payments infrastructure, warning businesses, government agencies and individuals to process urgent payments before the shutdown.
The central bank said the Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) and Automated Clearing House (ACH) services will be unavailable from 5:00pm on Thursday, November 5, 2026, until 9:00am on Monday, November 9, 2026.
The temporary closure will affect high-value payments and other financial transactions that depend on the two systems, potentially delaying money transfers between different commercial banks.
In a Frequently Asked Questions document released alongside the announcement, the Bank of Uganda said the upgrade is intended to strengthen the efficiency, reliability and resilience of Uganda’s national payments infrastructure.
The central bank did not describe the exercise as an emergency shutdown but rather a planned system upgrade.
Which banking services will be affected?
The suspension specifically targets RTGS and ACH services, meaning not every banking or electronic payment service will be interrupted.
RTGS is primarily used to process high-value and time-sensitive payments between financial institutions, while ACH facilitates electronic transfers and other payments between accounts held at different banks.
The Bank of Uganda clarified that mobile money services, Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), over-the-counter banking transactions and transfers between accounts within the same bank will continue operating normally.
However, customers have been cautioned against assuming that every other electronic payment service will remain available.
The central bank said the availability of additional payment services should be confirmed with the relevant providers, urging customers to contact their financial institutions for specific guidance.
It also advised customers to check with their banks whether particular transactions depend on RTGS or ACH before attempting to make payments during the closure.
Government agencies, businesses warned
The Bank of Uganda has specifically advised customers, businesses and Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to identify time-sensitive payments and process them before the scheduled shutdown.
Those with urgent financial obligations have been asked to contact their respective financial institutions to establish applicable transaction cut-off times and identify appropriate alternatives.
The warning is particularly significant for organisations that rely on interbank transfers to settle supplier invoices, contractual obligations and other high-value payments.
What happens to pending transactions?
One of the key concerns addressed in the central bank’s FAQ concerns transactions initiated before the shutdown but which may not have been settled by the time services are suspended.
The Bank of Uganda said arrangements for handling pending or unsettled transactions are still subject to confirmation.
It will communicate the treatment of such transactions to RTGS participants once the operational arrangements have been finalised.
Customers with transactions in this category have been advised to seek specific guidance from their respective financial institutions rather than assume that payments will automatically be completed.
What if services fail to resume on Monday?
The central bank has also addressed concerns about a possible delay in restoring the payment systems beyond the scheduled Monday morning deadline.
It said that if restoration takes longer than anticipated, RTGS participants and other affected stakeholders will be informed through its official communication channels.
The Bank promised to provide updates promptly, including an indication of the expected restoration time once a reliable estimate becomes available.
Users will also not be expected to rely on unofficial reports to establish whether the systems are operational.
According to the central bank, an official restoration notice will be issued after the responsible technical and operational teams have confirmed that the services are available.
The four-day interruption comes as electronic payment systems continue to play a central role in Uganda’s banking sector, facilitating transactions between businesses, government institutions and individuals.
The Bank of Uganda has apologised for the inconvenience and assured stakeholders that updates will be shared throughout the exercise.
Interbank services are expected to resume at 9:00am on Monday, November 9, 2026.
