How do I send bulk SMS in Uganda?
Updated
Create a free Bulk SMS Uganda account, upload your contacts from an Excel file, write your message, then send it straight away or schedule it for later. Delivery status shows on your dashboard. New accounts get 5 free SMS credits, so you can test before you top up.
Step by step
Step 1: Create a free account
Sign up with your email or Google account. 5 free SMS credits are added automatically — no credit card needed.
Step 2: Top up SMS credits
Buy credits with Mobile Money (MTN, Airtel) or Visa/Mastercard. Rates run from UGX 40 down to UGX 25 per SMS — see bulk SMS prices.
Step 3: Prepare your contacts in Excel
Put one contact per row in an .xlsx file. The first row holds the column names, for example Name, Phone and Balance. Phone numbers can be written as 0772123456, 772123456, 256772123456 or +256772123456.
Step 4: Upload them as a contact list
Create a contact list, give it a name and description, and upload the file. Lists are saved, so you can reuse them for every campaign.
Step 5: Write your message
Open the list's send page and type your message. Click a column name to insert it as a field such as #Name#, which is replaced with each contact's own value. Choose which column holds the phone numbers.
Step 6: Send now or schedule
Send immediately, or tick “Schedule for later” and pick a date and time. Before a list send starts, the platform works out the exact credits needed and checks your balance covers them.
Step 7: Track delivery
Follow each message's delivery status and your credit usage from the dashboard. See how to check delivery.
Sending to just one number
For a one-off message, use Quick SMS in the dashboard: enter the number and message and send — no contact list needed.
Sending from your own system
If the messages should go out automatically from your website, app or billing system, use the REST API instead — see how to send SMS from your app.
Related questions
Do I need technical skills to send bulk SMS?
No. Everything in the step-by-step guide happens in the web dashboard. The API is only needed if you want your own software to send messages automatically.
What file format do I upload contacts in?
An Excel .xlsx file with the column names in the first row and one contact per row.
Can I schedule a bulk SMS for later?
Yes. When sending to a contact list, tick “Schedule for later” and choose the date and time it should go out.
Which networks can I send to?
All major Ugandan mobile networks, including MTN Uganda and Airtel Uganda.
Try it free with 5 SMS credits
Pay-as-you-go, credits never expire, and no credit card is needed to start.
Create a free account