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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The central bank did not describe the exercise as an emergency shutdown but rather a planned system upgrade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The suspension specifically targets RTGS and ACH services, meaning not every banking or electronic payment service will be interrupted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, customers have been cautioned against assuming that every other electronic payment service will remain available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The warning is particularly significant for organisations that rely on interbank transfers to settle supplier invoices, contractual obligations and other high-value payments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Bank of Uganda said arrangements for handling pending or unsettled transactions are still subject to confirmation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It will communicate the treatment of such transactions to RTGS participants once the operational arrangements have been finalised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The central bank has also addressed concerns about a possible delay in restoring the payment systems beyond the scheduled Monday morning deadline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It said that if restoration takes longer than anticipated, RTGS participants and other affected stakeholders will be informed through its official communication channels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Bank promised to provide updates promptly, including an indication of the expected restoration time once a reliable estimate becomes available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Users will also not be expected to rely on unofficial reports to establish whether the systems are operational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Bank of Uganda has apologised for the inconvenience and assured stakeholders that updates will be shared throughout the exercise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Interbank services are expected to resume at 9:00am on Monday, November 9, 2026.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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