Bank of Uganda has announced a temporary shutdown of its Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) and Automated Clearing House (ACH) services, affecting payments that depend on these interbank settlement and clearing systems.
The interruption will begin at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 5, 2026, and is scheduled to end at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, November 9, 2026. The window spans 88 hours. All times are East Africa Time.
The central bank says the closure will allow a planned system upgrade intended to strengthen Uganda’s national payments infrastructure and support payments within the East African Community.
Which services will be affected?
RTGS and ACH transactions will be unavailable during the closure. Customers arranging bank-to-bank payments should establish whether their transactions use either system and make arrangements before the interruption begins.
RTGS supports settlement between financial institutions, while ACH supports payment clearing. The effect on a particular transfer or business payment depends on the payment channel used. Customers should confirm transaction requirements and processing cut-off times with their financial institutions.
Mobile money, ATMs and same-bank transfers remain available
In its latest clarification on X, updated on November 4, Bank of Uganda said mobile money, ATMs, over-the-counter services and transfers within the same bank will not be affected.
The announcement therefore concerns the two named interbank services. Customers will still be able to use the everyday services the central bank has identified as unaffected.
What customers and businesses should do
Bank of Uganda advises financial institutions, government entities, businesses and individuals to arrange time-sensitive payments in advance and process them before the closure starts.
Businesses with payroll, supplier invoices or other obligations falling within the interruption should ask their banks whether those payments depend on RTGS or ACH. The notice does not state that every salary or supplier payment will be affected.
Customers seeking transaction-specific guidance or alternative payment channels should contact their respective financial institutions. Bank-specific cut-off times may require earlier action than the central bank’s 5:00 p.m. closure.
Why the payment systems are being upgraded
According to the official public notice dated November 3, 2026, the upgrade is part of efforts to improve the efficiency, reliability, resilience and interoperability of Uganda’s national payments infrastructure in line with international standards.
It also supports the East African Community Cross-Border Payment System Masterplan, approved by the governors of EAC central banks, which aims to make payment flows across partner states more secure and efficient.
When will services resume?
The announced closure ends at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, November 9. Bank of Uganda says it will provide updates as necessary and issue a public notice once the upgraded services have been successfully restored.
Customers should follow updates from the central bank and their financial institutions when planning payments around the restoration time.
Featured image: Bank of Uganda by Yameliode, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Original photograph; display sizes may be automatically generated by WordPress.
