A software security review on Uganda's Mobile Money Services: Dr. Jim Spire's tweets sentiment analysis
It addresses security gaps in mobile money services for users and stakeholders in Uganda, but is incremental as it applies existing qualitative methods to new social media data.
This study analyzed the #StopAirtelThefty Twitter campaign in Uganda to investigate public concerns about mobile money security, revealing key vulnerabilities and user dissatisfaction through qualitative analysis of complaints.
The proliferation of mobile money in Uganda has been a cornerstone of financial inclusion, yet its security mechanisms remain a critical concern. This study investigates a significant public response to perceived security failures: the #StopAirtelThefty Twitter campaign of August 2025 Sparked by an incident publicized by Dr. Jim Spire Ssentongo where a phone thief accessed a victim's account, withdrew funds, and procured a loan, the campaign revealed deep seated public anxiety over the safety of mobile money. This research employs qualitative analysis to systematically examine the complaints raised during this campaign, extracting key themes related to security vulnerabilities and user dissatisfaction. By synthesizing these public sentiments, the paper provides crucial insights into the specific security gaps experienced by users and situates these findings within the larger framework of Uganda's mobile money regulatory and operational environment. The study concludes with implications for providers, policymakers, and the future of secure digital finance in Uganda.