We note Airtel Uganda, a carrier, has this month launched its Kwata Essimu credit scheme to allow customers to buy a new smartphone and pay by instalments over weeks, months or years.

The financial partnership is with Asante Financial Services Group and Mastercard.

The smartphone partnership is with Samsung. Individuals and SMEs can purchase eligible handsets from the 4G midrange, such as A01, A3 Core, or A11.

This is a beneficial development for smartphone sales in Eastern Africa, where replacement cycles are peaking and device makers are searching hard for innovative new ways to accelerate upgrades among the middle classes in big cities like Kampala.