We have seen telecom giants including MTN and Airtel quickly come out support its customers during the covid-19 pandemic lockdown that recently was imposed by the president. A few days to end of the lockdown date, Africell Uganda has also joined the bandwagon to support Uganda’s national crisis response.
The Lebanese Africell Holding SAL telecommunications Company has taken steps to optimize their services and raise urgent Covid-19 awareness. They are working towards delivering Uganda’s fastest and most reliable mobile network.
The steps Africell Uganda has taken in response to Covid-19 include:
1. #StayHome bonuses
To encourage customers to stay out of harm’s way, Africell has launched offers (data and voice) which create more reasons to enjoy the internet from the safety of home and to communicate with friends, loved ones and colleagues remotely.
2. #StaySafe campaign
Awareness is a key weapon in the fight against Covid-19. To ensure that Ugandans understand what to do, Africell is providing a consistent flow of trustworthy news and information on the radio, on social media, and Africell’s website. Moreover, until further notice, all mobile customers can access key websites related to health, media, information, e-learning & government such as www.who.int or www.academia.edu without using any data allowance.
3. Emergency connectedness
Africell has launched a nationwide free emergency communication pack comprised of free 20 minutes and 20 Mbs valid for 3 months. This combo is aimed to keep its customers connected during emergencies.
4. Better network capacity
The telecom company says it has also added more capacity to their network to withstand extra demand as more people work from home and to maintain the speed and quality which its customers expect.
5. More customer service options
They have reduced the number of Africell service centers which are physically open but have increased the range of alternative channels through which customers can buy or recharge mobile services, including:
- Digital channels: Web top-up at on their website www.africell.ug
- Special partners: Payway agents, Trade Lance (*252#), Ezee Money, Africa is Talking (*284#) and MTN Mobile Money agents countrywide
- Banking partners: Stanbic Bank, Top Finance, GT Bank & Equity Bank.
6. Reduced fees on Africell Money
To cut the need for customers to handle potentially unhygienic cash, Africell has waived fees on all Peer-to-Peer transactions conducted through the Africell Money service, regardless of the value of the transaction
7. Strict hygiene and sanitation
They have also imposed strict hygiene and sanitation measures at all our service centres and, in line with government advice, have enforced limitations on the number of people permitted within confined spaces at a single time.
