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The Real Cost of Website Development in Uganda (2026 Guide)
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Table of contents
- Payment Options Ugandans Trust: Mobile Money First, Cards for Global Buyers
- Why do you need a payment gateway for your website or mobile app in Uganda
- How Trophy Developers helps you integrate payments in Uganda
- Best payment gateways in Uganda (with approximate commission)
- Which gateway category should you choose?
- Aggregators (Mobile Money plus cards)
- Direct telco merchant rails
- International processors
- Platform compatibility: WooCommerce, Laravel, and Shopify
- Business requirements to set up a payment gateway in Uganda
- Common mistakes that reduce conversions
- FAQs: Payment Gateways in Uganda
Payment Options Ugandans Trust: Mobile Money First, Cards for Global Buyers
Ugandan customers prefer Mobile Money, mainly MTN MoMo and Airtel Money. Meanwhile, corporate and international buyers often pay by Visa and Mastercard. Because checkout speed and trust affect conversions, your payment gateway choice matters as much as your website design.
Why do you need a payment gateway for your website or mobile app in Uganda
If you sell online in Uganda, you need more than a nice website. Instead, you need a checkout that works on mobile, confirms payments automatically, and builds trust in seconds. Therefore, a reliable gateway helps you:
- Accept familiar options like MTN MoMo and Airtel Money for local buyers
- Accept Visa and Mastercard for corporate and international buyers
- Verify payments server-side, so you do not rely on screenshots
- Reduce abandoned carts because customers finish faster
- Reconcile faster since every payment has a clear reference
- Handle refunds and disputes more professionally
How Trophy Developers helps you integrate payments in Uganda
At Trophy Developers Uganda, we can integrate any payment gateways during web design and development, e-commerce setup, and mobile app development. Additionally, we ensure your integration supports both local and international buyers.
Platforms we already support:
- WordPress: The most popular CMS globally, known for its extensive library of themes and plugins, suitable for blogs, business websites, and e-commerce (via WooCommerce).
- Joomla!: Offers a balance of ease of use and flexibility, featuring robust user management and multilingual support, suitable for various site types, from simple to complex corporate sites.
- Drupal: An enterprise-grade CMS known for its strong security, scalability, and flexibility, often used by governments and large institutions with complex content needs.
- Squarespace: A cloud-based website builder that handles hosting and security, offering aesthetically pleasing templates and an intuitive drag-and-drop interface.
- Wix: Another cloud-based, all-in-one website builder with an intuitive drag-and-drop interface and a vast template library, ideal for users without technical expertise.
Shopify / Adobe Commerce (formerly Magento): Specialized e-commerce platforms providing comprehensive tools for online stores, including inventory management, payment gateways, and order fulfillment. - Headless CMS: These platforms (e.g., Contentful, Strapi, Prismic) focus solely on the back-end content management, delivering content via APIs to any front-end built with modern frameworks
- Mobile apps, including Flutter, React JS, use secure APIs and webhooks, etc
We can integrate any gateway you choose, including Stripe
Important: Stripe lists supported countries on its global availability page, and Uganda is not listed for direct onboarding. You can review the official list here: Stripe Global Availability.
However, if you already have a compliant Stripe account in a supported country, we can integrate Stripe Checkout into your site or app and run it alongside local Mobile Money. For pricing guidance, Stripe publishes standard fees here: Stripe Pricing.
What we implement so that payments work properly
- Hosted checkout or inline checkout, depending on your business model
- Webhooks and server-side verification, so you prevent fake confirmations
- Automatic order updates, receipts, and payment status pages
- Transaction logging for reconciliation, refunds, and support
- Sandbox testing, then controlled go-live monitoring
Best payment gateways in Uganda (with approximate commission)
Fees may vary depending on the plan, transaction size, currency, and settlement method. Nevertheless, the figures below help you plan your pricing and margins. After that, confirm the exact fees during the onboarding process.
Quick comparison table
| Gateway | Best for | Platforms | Approx commission | Official links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flutterwave | Mobile Money + cards with one integration | WooCommerce Laravel Shopify Mobile apps | Uganda: ~4.8% cards, ~3% mobile money (published guidance) | Flutterwave pricing |
| Pesapal | East Africa focused collections, e-commerce friendly | WooCommerce Laravel Shopify | ~3.5% per transaction (published on one-pager) | Pesapal one-pager |
| Xente | Ugandan business collections and payouts with clear pricing | WooCommerce Laravel Mobile apps | Published examples: UGX 1,000 + 3.5% (Basic) or UGX 500 + 2.5% (Pro) | Xente pricing |
| Yo! Payments (Yo Uganda) | Mobile Money collections and disbursements | Laravel Custom PHP Mobile apps | Published example: 0.5% (Yo to Yo transfers). Other rails vary by type. | Yo fees |
| pawaPay | One API for multi-country Mobile Money | Laravel Mobile apps Custom platforms | 1% fee plus MNO fee (published) | pawaPay plans |
| MTN MoMoPay | Direct merchant collections on MTN | Merchant rails Online | Published: 1% (Individual Merchant) and 2% (Business Merchant) | MoMoPay charges |
| DusuPay | Cross-border payments, API-first | Laravel Mobile apps Custom platforms | Rates start from around 3.5% depending on plan (published) | DusuPay pricing |
| Interswitch IPG | Enterprise collections and settlement | Laravel Custom platforms | Quoted per merchant (request onboarding details) | Interswitch IPG |
| DPO Pay | Card-heavy businesses, multi-method options | WooCommerce Shopify Laravel | Quoted per merchant (varies by volumes and risk profile) | DPO Pay Uganda |
| Stripe (International) | International cards and subscriptions (where available) | WooCommerce Laravel Shopify Mobile apps | Example published pricing: 2.9% + 30 cents for domestic cards (varies by region) | Availability Pricing |
| Paytota (Uganda) | Mobile Money collections & payouts (MTN + Airtel), plus local card payments | WooCommerce Laravel Mobile apps Custom platforms | Mobile Money collections: 2.8% per transaction Bulk disbursement: $0.25 per transaction Cards (Visa/Mastercard): $4 per transaction (local cards; international cards not supported) |
Pricing & Fees API Documentation Mobile Money (UG: MTN + Airtel) WooCommerce Plugin Setup |
How to interpret commissions correctly
First, consider which payment method drives most of your sales. Next, check whether the provider adds settlement or payout fees. Finally, confirm whether chargeback fees apply to card transactions, because those costs can affect margins.
Which gateway category should you choose?
Aggregators (Mobile Money plus cards)
If you want one checkout that supports Mobile Money and cards, start with an aggregator such as Flutterwave, Pesapal, or Xente. This approach is usually faster to launch. Additionally, it reduces the number of integrations you maintain.
Direct telco merchant rails
If you mainly accept MTN merchant payments, MoMoPay can work well. However, this setup is not always the best for full e-commerce flows, especially when you need automated order updates, refunds, and multi-method checkouts.
International processors
If you sell to international customers, Stripe can be a strong option when you have a compliant account in a supported country. In that case, we can combine Stripe for cards with a local mobile money gateway. As a result, you serve local and international buyers using one checkout experience.
Platform compatibility: WooCommerce, Laravel, and Shopify
WooCommerce payment gateway Uganda
WooCommerce is popular in Uganda because it gives you control and flexibility. However, a good WooCommerce integration must do more than collect money. Instead, it should update order status automatically and verify payments server-side.
- Enable Mobile Money and cards at checkout
- Validate webhooks and confirm transactions on your server
- Handle pending payments and failures clearly
- Support refunds where the provider allows it
Laravel payment gateway Uganda
Laravel fits portals, bookings, marketplaces, and subscription systems. Therefore, we focus on secure API calls, webhook verification, and clear audit logs so you can reconcile and support customers quickly.
- Create a payment intent or invoice.
- Redirect to hosted checkout or open a payment modal.
- Receive webhooks and verify payment on your server.
- Mark the order as paid and trigger fulfillment.
Shopify payment gateway Uganda
Shopify Payments is available only in specific countries. Therefore, if it is unavailable in your country, you typically choose a third-party gateway instead. You can review Shopify’s supported countries here: Shopify Payments supported countries.
For Uganda-based stores, we configure a compatible provider and keep checkout simple for Mobile Money customers. Additionally, we ensure payment confirmations update orders reliably.
Business requirements to set up a payment gateway in Uganda
Business and KYC requirements
Most providers require basic verification. Therefore, prepare these documents early, so you avoid delays:
- Business registration or certificate of incorporation
- TIN and tax details
- Director and beneficial owner IDs (NIN or passport)
- Proof of business address
- Settlement bank account details
Website compliance requirements
Providers often review your website before approval. Consequently, publish these pages before you apply:
- Privacy policy
- Terms and conditions
- Refund and returns policy
- Clear contact details and business identity
- Clear product or service descriptions and delivery terms
Technical requirements
Even with a hosted checkout, you still need secure callbacks. For that reason, ensure you have:
- HTTPS on your domain (SSL certificate)
- Callback and webhook URLs
- Server-side payment verification
- Secure storage for API keys
- Testing environment before go-live
Common mistakes that reduce conversions
Small checkout problems can silently reduce your revenue. Therefore, avoid these issues:
- Hiding Mobile Money options or adding too many steps
- Accepting payment success without server-side verification
- Weak messaging for pending and failed payments
- Forcing account creation before checkout
- No clear totals before payment starts
- Unclear refund policy and delivery terms
FAQs: Payment Gateways in Uganda
These are common questions people search on Google when comparing payment gateways in Uganda for WooCommerce, Laravel, Shopify, and mobile apps.
What are the best payment gateways in Uganda?
The best payment gateways in Uganda are the ones that support MTN MoMo, Airtel Money, and (if needed) Visa and Mastercard, while also providing stable APIs and reliable payment confirmations. For many businesses, aggregators like Flutterwave, Pesapal, and Xente work well because they combine multiple payment methods in one checkout. However, the best choice still depends on your platform (WooCommerce, Laravel, Shopify) and whether you sell locally or internationally.
How do I integrate MTN MoMo on my website in Uganda?
To integrate MTN MoMo on your website in Uganda, you can either use a gateway that supports MTN MoMo (recommended for faster setup) or integrate MTN merchant payments directly. In most cases, you install a WooCommerce plugin or connect an API, then you set up webhooks so your website verifies every transaction automatically. As a result, your orders update to “paid” without manual confirmation.
How do I integrate Airtel Money payments on my website?
To integrate Airtel Money payments on your website, choose a payment gateway that supports Airtel Money, then connect it using a plugin (WooCommerce) or API (Laravel/custom apps). After that, configure the callback and webhook URLs so your system confirms payment status server-side. That way, you reduce failed orders and avoid relying on screenshots.
Which payment gateway is best for WooCommerce in Uganda?
The best WooCommerce payment gateway in Uganda is the one that offers a reliable checkout flow for Mobile Money and updates orders automatically via webhooks. Therefore, prioritize gateways with stable APIs, clear documentation, and strong refund and reconciliation support. Also, confirm that the provider’s integration works well on mobile, because most Ugandan buyers check out from phones.
Which payment gateway is best for Laravel in Uganda?
The best Laravel payment gateway in Uganda is usually an API-first provider that supports webhooks, server-to-server verification, and clear transaction references. For example, if you run bookings, subscriptions, or a marketplace, Laravel integration works best when your app creates a payment request, redirects to checkout, and then verifies payment on the server. Consequently, you reduce fraud and get cleaner reconciliation.
Can Shopify accept Mobile Money in Uganda?
Yes, Shopify can accept Mobile Money in Uganda using third-party payment providers that support mobile money and provide a working Shopify integration path. Since Shopify Payments is not available in every country, many Uganda-based stores use supported third-party gateways instead. As a result, you can still collect MTN MoMo and Airtel Money, depending on the provider you choose.
What is the commission for payment gateways in Uganda?
Payment gateway commission in Uganda varies by provider and payment method. Usually, Mobile Money and card payments have different rates. In addition, some gateways add settlement or payout fees. Therefore, always confirm the exact commission during onboarding, then test with real transactions to validate your total cost.
How long does it take to activate a payment gateway in Uganda?
Activation time depends on KYC and compliance checks. In general, integration can be done quickly once you have API keys, while approval may take longer if your business documents or website policies are incomplete. Therefore, prepare your registration documents, TIN, director IDs, and website policies early to speed up activation.
What documents do I need to set up a payment gateway in Uganda?
Most providers require business registration documents, a TIN, director or beneficial owner IDs (NIN or passport), a settlement bank account, and proof of business address. Additionally, they often review your website for a privacy policy, terms and conditions, and a clear refund policy.
Can I use Stripe in Uganda?
Stripe is not available for direct merchant onboarding in Uganda. However, if you already have a compliant Stripe account in a Stripe-supported country, you can still integrate Stripe into your website or mobile app. In that case, many businesses combine Stripe for international cards with a local Mobile Money gateway for Uganda.
Should I use a payment aggregator or a direct Mobile Money API?
Use an aggregator if you want a faster launch and one checkout that supports both Mobile Money and cards. On the other hand, use direct Mobile Money APIs when you need deeper control, custom reconciliation rules, or special payout logic. However, direct integrations typically require more development and ongoing maintenance.
How do I stop fake payment confirmations on my website?
To stop fake payment confirmations, your system must verify every transaction server-side using the gateway API and signed webhooks. Therefore, avoid relying on screenshots or front-end “success” pages alone. Instead, confirm the transaction status directly from the provider, then update the order only after verification.
Last updated: February, 2026. Pricing and availability can change. Therefore, confirm fees with the provider during the onboarding process.
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