The Bank of Uganda, the country's central bank, has announced that it will be suspending two major payment systems, the Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) and Automated Clearing House (ACH) services, for four days. The suspension, which will take effect from 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 5, until 9:00 a.m. on Monday, November 9, 2026, is intended to facilitate a planned upgrade of the systems.
The RTGS and ACH systems handle high-value and time-sensitive interbank transfers, bulk electronic payments, cheque clearing, and direct debits. The suspension will affect businesses, government agencies, and individuals who rely on bank transfers for urgent payments. As a result, they will need to make alternative arrangements during the period. The central bank has assured that the upgrade is part of its efforts to improve the efficiency, reliability, resilience, and interoperability of Uganda's national payments infrastructure.
According to the Bank of Uganda, the upgrade will support the implementation of the East African Community (EAC) Cross-Border Payment System Masterplan. This masterplan was approved by the governors of the region's central banks to facilitate seamless, secure, and efficient payment flows across EAC Partner States. The central bank has stated that the exercise is in line with international standards and will strengthen the country's payments infrastructure and support regional financial integration.
The temporary closure of the RTGS and ACH systems means that banks and other financial institutions will not be able to process transactions through these systems during the specified period. The RTGS system is primarily used for high-value and time-critical payments between financial institutions, while the ACH handles bulk electronic fund transfers, cheque clearing, and direct debit transactions.
The suspension of these systems could cause delays in large business transactions, interbank settlements, and urgent payments involving government agencies and corporate customers. Additionally, individuals who expect money through bank transfers or have scheduled payments may also experience delays, depending on the payment channel used. However, mobile banking, mobile money, card payments, and cash services are not affected by the suspension.
The Bank of Uganda has advised financial institutions, government entities, businesses, and individuals to make arrangements in advance and process time-sensitive payments before the closure begins. Customers have been advised to contact their respective financial institutions for guidance on transaction-specific arrangements, including available alternative payment channels.
The central bank has assured that it will provide updates where necessary and issue another public notice once the upgraded services have been successfully restored. The upgrade is expected to improve the country's payments infrastructure and support regional financial integration.
Key points
- The suspension is intended to facilitate a planned upgrade of the RTGS and ACH systems.
- The upgrade will support the implementation of the East African Community (EAC) Cross-Border Payment System Masterplan.
- The suspension will affect businesses, government agencies, and individuals who rely on bank transfers for urgent payments.
