MTN Uganda Ordered to Pay Shs300 Million in Ezee Money Case

The Court of Appeal in Uganda has significantly lowered the damages owed by MTN Uganda to Ezee Money Uganda, bringing the payout down from Shs2.3 billion to Shs300 million. This decision successfully saves the telecommunications giant Shs2 billion in a long-standing legal battle.

A panel of three Justices of Appeal, headed by Justice Geoffrey Kiryabwire, reviewed the case and maintained that MTN remained liable for the wrongful interference of contractual relations. The court found sufficient evidence demonstrating that MTN had induced Yo! Uganda Limited to terminate its aggregation arrangement with Ezee Money, severely disrupting their operations.

However, the appellate court partially ruled in favour of MTN by overturning a lower court’s finding that the mobile money firm was entitled to specific protections under the anti-competition provisions outlined in the Uganda Communications Act, 2013. By setting aside this aspect of the initial judgment, the justices drastically reduced the overall financial penalty.

Legal disputes within Uganda’s rapidly expanding fintech and telecommunications sectors continue to highlight the complexities of corporate partnerships and market competition. As digital financial services grow, regulatory frameworks and contractual obligations remain under intense scrutiny by the judiciary.

Read more details about this ruling on the Daily Monitor.