South African earned wage access startup Paymenow has partnered Uganda’s Thiqa Digital Finance, a leading Islamic finance platform, to allow Ugandan government employees with early and responsible access to their earned wages, completely secure and interest-free, via a mobile app.
Founded in 2019, Thiqa Digital Finance specialises in Islamic and Shariah-compliant financial solutions, powered by its proprietary technologies and platform, while Paymenow is a responsible earned wage access fintech that empowers staff by giving them access to their already-earned wages through a mobile app and website.
The partnership allows Thiqa to leverage its valuable experience and knowledge of the Ugandan market to address shortcomings in the traditional monthly wage payment systems locally by providing employees with affordable real-time access to hard-earned wages. Paymenow’s platform has already provided financing to over 500,000 people in Africa, and it will now extend its reach and services to Uganda via the partnership with Thiqa.
In addition to responsible and affordable early access to wages, the mobile app will provide comprehensive financial education resources for its users, fostering a culture of savings and driving economic prosperity.
“At Thiqa, we are developing innovative and ethical products in Africa, rooted in our core principles of fairness, transparency and partnership. Our mission perfectly aligns with Paymenow’s commitment to fair finance, and financial well-being across Africa. We are dedicated to empowering salaried workers across Uganda, and are excited to expand our offering with convenient access to affordable finance and financial educational tools,” said Danielle Lavan, CEO of Thiqa Digital Finance.
“The Thiqa-Paymenow product is unique and will address the daily and monthly cash flow challenges faced by most people between paydays, such as struggling to cover the essentials like food, utilities, transport and medication. By partnering with Paymenow, we are bringing their direct payroll integration solution to Ugandan government employees, helping them bridge the gap between paydays and managing unexpected expenses. What Paymenow has been able to achieve in Southern Africa – growing a customer base of over half a million users – is exceptional, and we look forward to replicating this success and making a tangible impact in Uganda.’’
Paymenow group CEO Deon Nobrega said Thiqa had an exemplary track record in terms of building Islamic and Shariah-compliant financial solutions for the Ugandan market.
“The traditional monthly pay cycle often leaves employees unable to cover emergencies or seize immediate financial opportunities. With our EWA technology, users in South Africa, Zambia and Namibia gain early access to their earned wages, enabling them to address pressing financial needs. Together with Thiqa, we aim to empower Ugandans with the financial security and flexibility they truly deserve. Our embedded financial education tools will also equip Ugandans with the knowledge and resources to effectively manage their finances and build a brighter financial future,” he said.
