Payaza has obtained a Payment System Operator (PSO) licence from the Bank of Uganda, announced on February 11, 2026.
This regulatory approval authorises Payaza to operate directly within Uganda’s regulated financial ecosystem, marking a pivotal advancement in its East African expansion strategy.
The licence strengthens Payaza’s infrastructure footprint in the region and provides the legal foundation for processing transactions, integrating payment channels, and delivering settlement services in full compliance with national standards.
It also validates the company’s governance framework, anti-money-laundering controls, fraud prevention mechanisms, and overall operational resilience.
Shift from Intermediary to Direct Participant
Prior to this approval, Payaza relied on third-party intermediaries to facilitate certain payment flows in Uganda.
The PSO licence eliminates this dependency, enabling the company to act as a licensed infrastructure participant in the national payments landscape.
This transition offers several operational advantages:
- Direct access to Uganda’s payments ecosystem, including integration with local banks, mobile money operators, and merchants.
- Enhanced ability to process both local and international transactions without routing through external partners.
- Greater control over settlement timelines, reducing latency and improving predictability for end-users.
By operating under the direct supervision of the Bank of Uganda, Payaza can deliver services that align closely with local regulatory requirements while maintaining scalability across borders.
Implications for Cross-Border Payment Rails
The licence supports Payaza’s strategic objective of constructing regulated, multi-country payment infrastructure throughout Africa.
By establishing a controlled presence in key markets, the company reduces friction for merchants and businesses engaged in regional and international trade.
In Uganda’s market, often characterised by high mobile wallet penetration, the PSO status enables:
- Mobile-optimised checkout flows that match prevalent consumer behaviour.
- Omnichannel integration for seamless merchant experiences.
- Simplified expansion for businesses operating across East Africa and beyond.
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For global enterprises seeking compliant entry into Uganda, the licence provides a reliable gateway that minimises regulatory complexity and counterparty risk.
Broader Strategic and Market Context
This development forms part of Payaza’s longer-term vision to create a unified payments network capable of supporting seamless commerce across the continent.
The PSO licence in Uganda complements existing operations and positions the company to capitalise on growing demand for efficient, regulated cross-border solutions.
In a region where fragmented payment systems and currency constraints persist, licensed direct participation enhances reliability, reduces costs, and strengthens competitive positioning.
It also aligns with the Bank of Uganda’s efforts to foster a secure, innovative, and inclusive national payments ecosystem.
Looking Ahead
The Payment System Operator licence fundamentally elevates Payaza’s role in Uganda’s payments stack, shifting the company from intermediary-dependent operations to direct, compliant participation.
This regulatory milestone enhances transaction efficiency, supports cross-border expansion, and reinforces Payaza’s ambition to build scalable payment infrastructure across Africa.
The approval underscores the value of regulated integration in addressing real-world friction for merchants and businesses.
For the most current details, consult official announcements from Payaza or the Bank of Uganda.
Payaza Overview
Payaza login is how merchants and partners access their dashboard on the Payaza platform to manage payments and financial tools.
The company was founded by Seyi Ebenezer, who serves as CEO, leading Payaza’s expansion across Africa and into new markets.
Payaza runs a Payaza internship / graduate trainee program offering a three-month immersive experience for recent graduates with structured learning and mentorship across fintech functions.
Payaza Kenya refers to the company’s operations and customer base in Kenya as part of its broader Payaza Africa footprint, where it provides digital payment infrastructure to businesses both locally and continent-wide.
Payaza career opportunities include roles in engineering, product, compliance, operations and other teams; openings are shared on the official careers portal and the company’s LinkedIn profile, which highlights Payaza’s team and updates.
Payaza Africa has grown significantly since its launch, rebranding as Payaza 2.0 to enhance its payment solutions and expand its services in multiple countries across the continent.
Ronnie Paul is a seasoned writer and analyst with a prolific portfolio of over 1,000 published articles, specialising in fintech, cryptocurrency, climate change, and digital finance at Africa Digest News.
