How to Deposit Money Into EriPay With MTN Mobile Money or Airtel Money

Most EriPay customers fund their wallets with mobile money. It works on both MTN and Airtel, takes less than a minute, and you approve it on your own phone with your mobile money PIN. This guide covers the steps, how the fee works, what to do if something goes wrong, and a few habits that make deposits smoother.

Step by step

1. Sign in to EriPay and tap Deposit (or Add Money).
2. Choose your Ugandan shilling wallet.
3. Select Mobile Money (UGX) as the method.
4. Enter the amount you want to add and the MTN or Airtel number to pay from.
5. Check the summary: the amount that will reach your wallet and the network charge.
6. Confirm. Within seconds a prompt appears on the phone with that SIM.
7. Enter your mobile money PIN on that prompt to approve.
8. Your EriPay wallet is credited as soon as the network confirms, and you get a notification.

Understanding the fee

EriPay adds no deposit charge of its own. Mobile money networks charge for every collection, and that charge is passed on transparently: it is added to the amount you approve on your phone, so the full amount you chose arrives in your wallet. You always see it before you confirm.

Example: you want UGX 50,000 in your wallet. The summary shows the network charge, and the prompt on your phone asks you to approve UGX 50,000 plus that charge. Your EriPay balance goes up by exactly UGX 50,000.

Which number can I pay from?

Any MTN or Airtel Uganda number you can approve the prompt on. Most people use their own number. Paying from someone else's number works too, but they must approve the prompt on their phone.

If the prompt does not appear

• Check that the phone with that SIM is switched on and has signal.
• Check the number: it should start with 07 or +256 and have the right digits.
• Make sure your mobile money account has enough balance for the amount plus the charge.
• Some phones show the prompt as a pop-up that disappears quickly; dial your network's mobile money menu to look for pending approvals.
• Wait a minute and try again. Do not approve two prompts for the same deposit.

If the deposit shows as pending

Most deposits complete within seconds. Occasionally a network takes longer to confirm. EriPay checks automatically every minute and credits your wallet as soon as confirmation arrives; you don't need to do anything. If money left your mobile money account but has not reached EriPay after an hour, open a support ticket and include the transaction ID from your EriPay history and the mobile money message you received.

If the deposit failed

A failed deposit means the network did not take your money, or returned it. Check your mobile money balance; then simply try again. Common reasons are a wrong PIN on the prompt, not enough balance, or the prompt timing out.

Good habits

• Deposit larger amounts less often. Because each collection has a network charge, one deposit of UGX 100,000 is usually cheaper than five deposits of UGX 20,000.
• Get paid directly into EriPay. When clients, employers and family send to your EriPay wallet, there is no deposit charge at all.
• Never approve a prompt you didn't start. If a prompt appears that you didn't request, decline it. It may be someone trying to take money from you.

Other ways to deposit

• Bank transfer: good for larger amounts; your wallet is credited after our team confirms the transfer.
• EriPay agent: hand cash to an agent, who credits your wallet instantly. Free for the customer.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a minimum deposit?

Yes, a small minimum shown on the deposit screen.

Can I deposit in US dollars?

Mobile money deposits go into your UGX wallet. You can exchange to another currency inside EriPay afterwards.

No account yet? Sign up free and make your first deposit today.