USSD and dialing codes for Uganda: Detailed guide on how to check airtime, mobile money, internet bundles, etc
List of USSD codes in Uganda. For example, you can check the remaining balance of your phone number, and other queries too. It makes a two-way communication of information for users as they use USSD code.
What is a Ussd Code Number?
Unstructured Supplementary Service Data, sometimes referred to as "quick codes" or "feature codes", is a communications protocol used by GSM cellular telephones to communicate with the mobile network operator's computers.
Tasks like airtime balance inquiry and money transfer have been made easy by the availability of these USSD shortcodes.
USSD is a protocol used by cellphones to communicate with their service provider’s computers via text messages. These are commonly used to check mobile airtime and data balance inquiries or to receive one-time passwords or PIN codes, among many applications. So what are the most important USSD shortcodes in Uganda?
Common USSD codes used in Uganda
1. Self help menu
This is the general help menu that lists all the telecom's USSD services. It's the same for almost all networks apart from MTN
Dail *100# and select from the different options available.
2. Airtime Balance Inquiry
Before making a call or texting, one thing to do is check for your airtime balance to ensure your call will not be cut short in the middle of your discussion. Thankfully, all the Telecom service providers use the same USSD code for airtime balance inquiry.
Dial *131# to find out your airtime balance.
3. Data Balance Inquiry and Recharge
Want to access the internet? You will have to subscribe to a data bundle to do so, dial;
*175# for Airtel;
*150# for MTN;
Select the options according to the amount of data you would like to buy. Also, there are options that allow you to check for your existing data balance.
4. Mobile Money
You literally can have a bank at your fingertips and send money to anyone at any time, subscribe to data or voice bundles, and pay bills among others. To access mobile money, dial;
*185# for all networks.
*165# on MTN will direct you to the same menu as above.
5. Unsubscribe From Promotional Messages
You know those unsolicited adverts in the form of messages that keep flooding your inbox?
To stop them, dial *196# on MTN and Airtel Networks.
6. Know Your Mobile Number
One can forget their phone number, there are circumstances where your own number might skip your head for a minute.
Dial *120# for Airtel.
*160*7*1# for Mtn.
For lyca mobile, dail *100# ▶️ select 4▶️ select 1
Other Useful Airtel USSD Codes
- Data Bundles *175#
- Voice Bundles e.g Pakalast *149#
- All products & Services *100#
- Airtel Zone *135#
- International calling bundles *146#
- Loyalty program *141#
- Check sim card registration status *197#
- Airtel Football *154#
- Voice Beerako *143#
- Data Beerako *143#
- Airtel games club *172#
- Check bonus minutes *170#
- Blackberry *145#
- Voice mail service *121#
- One and only service *100*11*2#
- Missed call alert *100*11*7#
- Call me back *100*11*3*2#
- One network airtime loading 138*airtime pin
- Me2U /Share credit *166*amount*number to receive#
- Postpaid usage *144#
- Beerako advanced credit *155#
- Hello tunes *157#
- Corporate mega bonus *187#
- Pay School fees *165*6#
- Wewole *165*8#
- Pay Bill *165*4#
For more information on Airtel, visit their website at https://www.airtel.co.ug/
Other Useful MTN USSD Codes Uganda
- MTN CallerTunez Menu *170#
- MTN Play Content Menu *180#
- Un subscribe to content *175#
- 1-4-1 Loyalty *141#
- MTN Mobile Data Bundles *150#
- Borrow Airtime *160*3#
- My PakaPaka Bundles *160*1#
- Me2U *160*6#
- MTN WhoCalled *160*7*6#
For more information, visit their website at https://www.mtn.co.ug/
Lycamobile Uganda
For more Lycamobile information, visit their website at https://www.lycamobile.ug/en
Smile Communications Uganda
For smile users, you can visit this portal for more information https://www.smile.co.ug/
How to load airtime or an internet bundle on any network.
It is worth mentioning in this article that most of these codes are restricted to transactions within the same network. However if you have multiple sim cards like me, and you find yourself with some mobile money on one and need to buy a service on another network. Perhaps because the other network offers a better service or any other reason;
Dail *252#. This service is universal to all but it incurs an extra charge.
Mobile Phone dialing codes in Uganda
How to Make a Call from Uganda?
If you’re calling from outside Uganda, dial +256, then the whole mobile number minus the leading zero.
MTN Uganda 0770 to 0779 and 0780 to 0789 xxx xxx
Airtel Uganda 0700 – 0706 and 0750 – 0759 xxx xxx
Uganda Telecom 0710 – 0719 xxx xxx
Smile Communications 0720 xxx xxx
Lycamobile 0726 xxx xxx
Fixe lines dialing codes
MTN Uganda 0300 xxx xxx
Uganda Telecom 0400 xxx xxx
Airtel 0207 and 0204 xxx xxx
Africell 0200 and 0201 xxx xxx
Smile Telecom 02025 – 02029 xxx xxx
Free calls dialing codes
MTN Uganda 0800 2xx xxx
Uganda Telecom 0800 1xx xxx and 0810 1xxxxx
Airtel 0800 3xx xxx and 0800 707 xxx and 0800 777 xxx
Africell 0800 900 xxx
What are the Best telecom mobile Apps to use in Uganda?
If you are not comfortable with these USSD codes, then you can consider downloading the correspondence mobile app for your network from an app store. These eliminate the need for recalling Ussd codes but may require an internet connection to work.
What's Your Reaction?
