The verdict in three sentences
With cash, the school chases parents and 22 % of fees stay unpaid in Kampala in 2026. With a mobile money installment plan in 3 tranches and an SMS reminder at D-3, arrears fall to 9 %. Every payment is reconciled per student, paid out at T+1, for MoMo fees of 1.5 % — a cash-flow gain that more than funds the tool.
Why installments cut arrears
The problem isn't parental bad faith, it's a single lump sum that's too heavy to pay at once. A parent who must produce 150,000 FCFA in one go delays; the same parent easily pays three tranches of 50,000 FCFA aligned with their income. Mobile money makes that split automatic, with no trip to the school.
The D-3 SMS reminder does the rest. A reminded parent pays; a forgotten parent becomes arrears. By automating the reminder and payment link, the school turns time-consuming manual chasing into a steady flow.
| Metric | Cash (2026) | MoMo + installments (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Arrears rate | 22 % | 9 % |
| Number of tranches | 1 | 3 |
| Automatic reminder | no | SMS at D-3 |
| MoMo fees | — | 1.5 % |
| Payout delay | variable | T+1 |
| Reconciliation | manual | automatic per student |
| Chasing time / month | ~40 h | ~6 h |
The cash-flow math for 800 students
Take an average annual fee of 150,000 FCFA across 800 students, i.e. 120,000,000 FCFA expected. The table shows the gap between the two systems.
| Item | Cash (22 % arrears) | MoMo (9 % arrears) |
|---|---|---|
| Theoretical revenue | 120,000,000 FCFA | 120,000,000 FCFA |
| Arrears | 26,400,000 FCFA | 10,800,000 FCFA |
| Collected revenue | 93,600,000 FCFA | 109,200,000 FCFA |
| Collection fees | 0 (but losses) | ~1,638,000 FCFA (1.5 %) |
| Net revenue | 93,600,000 FCFA | 107,562,000 FCFA |
The net gain of about 13,962,000 FCFA far exceeds the platform cost.
Mini case study
Aminata runs an 800-student school. In cash she collects 93.6M FCFA and spends 40 hours a month chasing. After switching to MoMo installments she collects 109.2M FCFA gross, pays 1.64M FCFA in MoMo fees and drops to 6 hours of chasing a month. Result: +13.96M FCFA in cash flow and 34 hours/month returned to her admin team. The management site with payment, costing around 900,000 FCFA, is repaid at the very first term.
Become a Kolonell referral partner
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Know head teachers or training-center directors drowning in arrears? Refer them to Kolonell. Our referral program pays 15 % on a showcase sale + 5 % recurring, 12 % on e-commerce, 10 % on marketplace and 8 % on institutional. A school platform at 900,000 FCFA earns you 135,000 FCFA, plus recurring revenue on maintenance.
FAQ
Can parents without a smartphone pay?
Yes. MoMo payment also works via USSD from a basic phone; the SMS link guides each step. No parent is excluded.
How does the school track who has paid?
Every tranche is reconciled automatically under the student's name in the dashboard. No more paper ledger: the per-student balance is visible in real time.
What is the real cost to the school?
MoMo fees are 1.5 % per transaction, about 1.64M FCFA on 109M collected — set against the 15.6M FCFA of avoided arrears.
Are SMS reminders expensive?
One SMS costs a few units; across 800 students and 3 tranches, the annual SMS budget stays under 100,000 FCFA, easily offset by lower arrears.
How long to set up the platform?
A school management platform with payment and installments ships in 2 to 4 weeks depending on modules, ready for the new term.
Let's talk about your project. Secure your school's cash flow before the next term. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
