The Scene at Konyo Konyo Market
It’s 8 AM on a Thursday morning at Konyo Konyo Market, Juba’s busiest trading hub. Vegetable sellers are arranging their produce. Mothers are bargaining for tomatoes and onions. Shopkeepers are unlocking their metal shutters.
But something has changed.
Fewer customers are pulling crumpled banknotes from their pockets. More are pulling out their phones.
“Mobile money changed everything for me,” says Grace, a vegetable seller who has been at Konyo Konyo for six years. “Before, I would lose customers every day because I had no change. Now, they just scan and pay. I don’t need change at all.”
Grace is one of over 500 merchants now using Find & Pay to accept cashless payments. And she’s not alone.
The Cash Shortage Crisis
For years, South Sudan has faced a silent but devastating problem: chronic cash shortages.
The symptoms are familiar to almost everyone:
- Standing in long lines at banks, only to be told “no cash today”
- Fuel stations refusing to sell because they can’t make change
- Pharmacies turning away sick patients who only have large notes
- Small businesses watching customers walk away
According to the Bank of South Sudan, cash shortages affect over 70% of daily transactions in urban areas. The problem isn’t that people don’t have money. It’s that the money isn’t available in the right denominations at the right time.
Mobile money solves this problem completely.
How Mobile Money Works for Everyday Purchases
If you’re new to mobile money, here’s the simple version:
Step 1: You deposit cash at any authorized mobile money agent. The agent adds digital value to your mobile wallet.
Step 2: When you want to pay a merchant, you open Find & Pay, select the service, and confirm the payment.
Step 3: The money transfers instantly from your wallet to the merchant. No cash changes hands. No change is needed.
Step 4: The merchant can use that digital money to pay suppliers, withdraw cash at an agent, or keep it in their wallet for future purchases.
No bank account required. No complicated setup. Just a phone and a mobile money account.
Real Stories from Real Merchants
Mama Frida’s Kitchen, Hai Malakal
“I used to close by 4 PM because I would run out of change by midday,” says Mama Frida, who runs a popular local restaurant. “Now I stay open until 8 PM. My sales have doubled. Customers love that they can pay with their phones.”
Trinity Energy, Multiple Locations
“We have fuel stations across Juba,” says the station manager. “Cash shortages meant we sometimes had to stop selling for hours. With Find & Pay mobile money payments, we never have to say ‘sorry, no change’ again.”
JIT Pharmacy, Juba Road
“Medicine is essential. We didn’t want to turn anyone away because of cash problems,” says the pharmacy manager. “Since joining Find & Pay, we’ve seen more repeat customers who appreciate the convenience.”
What Customers Are Saying
“I used to carry a lot of cash when going to the market. It was stressful,” says John, a customer in Juba. “Now I just take my phone. I feel safer, and it’s faster.”
“My mother is elderly and doesn’t like going to the bank,” says Sarah. “I send her mobile money through Find & Pay, and she pays for her medicine and food without ever leaving her neighborhood.”
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Since launching Find & Pay in Juba:
- 500+ merchants now accept mobile money payments
- 10,000+ active users have completed over 50,000 cashless transactions
- 30% average sales increase for merchants who switched to digital payments
- Zero cash shortage complaints from Find & Pay users
Is Mobile Money Safe?
This is the most common question we hear.
Mobile money is actually safer than cash in many ways:
- No theft risk – If your phone is stolen, your money is protected by your PIN
- Transaction records – Every payment is logged and can be traced
- No counterfeit bills – Digital money can’t be faked
- Dispute resolution – If something goes wrong, there’s a record to investigate
Of course, you should always protect your PIN and never share it with anyone. But overall, mobile money offers security that cash simply cannot match.
How to Get Started
For Customers:
- Register for MTN MoMo at any MTN agent
- Download the Find & Pay app
- Add money to your mobile wallet
- Start paying cashlessly at hundreds of merchants
For Merchants:
- Sign up on Find & Pay (free for first 6 months)
- Display your QR code or merchant number
- Start accepting mobile money payments
- Watch your sales grow
The Future Is Cashless
South Sudan is at the beginning of a digital revolution. Mobile money adoption is growing faster than ever. Young people, especially, prefer the convenience of phone payments.
Find & Pay is proud to be part of this change. We’re not just building an app. We’re building a new way for South Sudan to do business.
No more “sorry, no change.” No more turning away customers. No more cash stress.
Just find, pay, and go.