Safaricom recently announced that M-Pesa users in Kenya can now send funds to recipients in Uganda thanks to a partnership with mobile operator MTN, according to a press release.

"This move by the private sector complements economic initiatives spearheaded by the East African Community Heads of State," Betty Mwangi, Safaricom's director of financial services, said in a statement. 

Uganda becomes the third country in this region of Africa where Safaricom has introduced services through MNO deals. Safaricom earlier this year signed partnerships with Vodacom of Tanzania and MTN of Rwanda. 

Safaricom said that the agreement with MTN in Uganda stands to benefit more thn 22 million M-Pesa customers.

"We are excited to offer affordable remittance services from M-Pesa to MTN mobile money users in Uganda," said Phrase Lubega, general manager of mobile financial services for MTN Uganda. "Our subscribers will be able to cash out at any of our 55,000 agents across the country."