A resident of Mengo, Kampala, Matsiko Brian, is locked in a frustrating battle with telecom companies after a mobile money transaction worth UGX 4.5 million allegedly disappeared from the system despite a court order directing its recovery.
Matsiko Brian, a resident of Mengo, says he has spent weeks pursuing his money after a suspicious transaction involving another individual identified as Joram Mbogga (SCAMMER) left the funds unaccounted for.
According to Matsiko, the ordeal began on Friday, 17th February 2026, when he initiated a FOREX transaction, sending $1,293.16 to Mbogga. Shortly after receiving the money, Mbogga reportedly acknowledged receipt and sent Shs 4,500,000 from his MTN mobile money number to Matsiko’s Airtel mobile money number.
However, what initially appeared to be a simple transaction quickly turned into a complex dispute. Matsiko says that approximately 26 minutes later, Mbogga initiated a reversal of the transaction, pulling the money back to his own line. The move left Matsiko confused and concerned, as he believed the funds had already been returned to him.
Realizing something was wrong, Matsiko immediately contacted customer support at the MTN Lugogo branch to report the issue and seek assistance. According to him, MTN immediately blocked the number from which the receipt originated and said that the money was “hanging” within the mobile money system. Matsiko was then advised by the MTN Lugogo manager that, in order to recover his funds, he had to go to court and obtain a court order. He was also promised that since the line had been blocked, any transaction would require his notification.
On 19th February 2026, Matsiko successfully obtained a court order from Grade One Magistrate Yunus Ndiwalana directing both MTN and Airtel to take immediate steps to recover the disputed funds. The order compelled the two telecom companies to cooperate in tracing the transaction and ensuring that the money was returned to its rightful owner. Upon handing in the court order, Matsiko was notified that the funds were safe and locked on the blocked MTN number and ready for reversal.
After a week, Matsiko was notified that the funds had been removed from the blocked MTN number by an MTN employee (unknown).
Despite repeated follow-ups with MTN legal counsel (Mrs. Nowamaani Pacifique) and MTN finance representative (Mr. Edeidu Paul), Matsiko says he received little clarity on when or how the funds would be restored, and that the employee in question has been firmly protected by both the MTN legal counsel and MTN finance supervisor, prompting him to escalate the matter through legal channels.
However, Matsiko says that even with the court order in place, the situation remains unresolved.
“The money is still not on my account, and no one is giving me clear answers,” Matsiko reportedly said. “I followed the legal process and obtained a court order, but up to now nothing has been done.”
The incident has raised questions about the handling of mobile money disputes, particularly when transactions involve different telecom networks. Mobile money platforms have become one of the most widely used financial services in Uganda, facilitating millions of transactions daily for individuals and businesses.
While telecom companies often provide mechanisms for reversing mistaken transactions, cases involving alleged fraud, blocked numbers, or cross-network transfers can become significantly more complicated.
Legal observers say the case also highlights the growing reliance on digital financial services and the need for stronger safeguards and faster dispute resolution mechanisms to protect consumers.
For Matsiko, the matter has become more than just a financial loss—it is now a fight for accountability.
He insists that he will continue pursuing the case until the UGX 4.5 million is recovered, vowing not to give up until the telecom companies comply with the court order and the funds are returned.
“I will not stop until my money is back,” Matsiko said. “Someone must take responsibility for what happened.”
