Uganda’s Communications Commission (UCC) urged mobile money operators to seek international certification for services to ensure good practice, Daily Monitor reported, while a controversial transaction tax was approved by parliament.

In an interview with the newspaper, UCC executive director Godfrey Mutabazi said he expected the country’s operators to adhere to international guidelines and seek certification to ensure efficient delivery.

The comments come a month after the GSMA unveiled its pioneering Global Mobile Money Certification Scheme,  which assesses operators against a number of parameters. Checks include: provision of reliable services, protecting consumer rights, combating money laundering and preventing the financing of terrorism.

So far five operators have received the accreditation: Safaricom m-Pesa in Kenya, Orange Money in the Ivory Coast, Tanzania providers Tigo Pesa and Vodacom m-Pesa, and Telenor Microfinance Bank’s Easypaisa in Pakistan.

Tax issues
As authorities in Uganda request operators conform to new standards, the country’s government remains under pressure to backtrack on a new tax on mobile money transactions.

MPs this week passed the increased levy through parliament, with the measure heavily criticised by community groups, industry bodies and businesses across the country. Detractors claim the move will hamper financial inclusion and hit poorer members of society hardest.