Jumia has introduced Airtel Money payment on its platform to ease payments for subscribers of Ugandan Airtel who can now pay for their orders through Airtel Money. This is in addition to its existing cash-on-delivery and MTN Mobile Money payment options.

The e-commerce giant expects that the addition of of payment methods on the platform will make it easier for Ugandans who already depend on mobile money payments in making their daily transactions. In addition, Jumia is hopeful that integrating with one of the leading payment methods in East Africa will attract more users.

Although this is beneficial for existing users as mobile money is method of choice for most users in Uganda and rest of East Africa, we are doubtful it will result in a significant increase in new users as cash still remains king in the country for its convenience and safety — and cash-on-delivery is already a payment option on the platform.

Jumia has been plagued by trouble in recent months as it sees increasing losses and has stopped operations in three countries: Tanzania, Cameroon and Rwanda.

You can read more about Jumia in a recent MAV Analysis report – Jumia- Africa’s Last Unicorn? Lessons From A Chinese Bootstrapper issued earlier this year.

We also covered East Africa’s homegrown Wakala network in our MAV Analysis Wakala – Deepening Financial Inclusion In East Africa, both reports are available at our report store.