We're not going to pretend TumaFare is the right tool for every situation. Sometimes sending Mobile Money directly is perfectly fine. Here's the honest breakdown.
Send directly when:
- You're sending to someone you completely trust and arrival doesn't matter (e.g., sending your mum grocery money)
- The payment has no condition attached — it's a gift or support
- You don't care if they come or not; you just want them to have the money
- The amount is small enough that if it goes wrong, you'll survive without drama
Use TumaFare when:
- Arrival matters. You need them to actually show up — for a function, a meeting, a job, anything. The payment being conditional on arrival is the whole point.
- You've been burned before. Once you've sent fare and been ghosted, you know the feeling. TumaFare is the upgrade.
- The person is trustworthy but you want accountability for both sides. Even with people you trust, conditions create clarity. No misunderstandings about "did you send?" or "are you really coming?"
- The amount stings if it goes wrong. UGX 50,000 or KES 5,000 isn't life-ending but it's annoying. Protect it.
- You want a record. TumaFare creates a transaction history. You have proof of payment, arrival, and release. Useful for any disputes.
The fee question
TumaFare charges a small service fee (around 2%) plus the standard Mobile Money charge. For a UGX 20,000 transport payment, that's roughly UGX 400. The question is: is UGX 400 worth the protection? If there's any chance they don't show up — yes.
Bottom line
Direct Mobile Money: fast, free, unconditional. Great for gifts and trusted relationships with no conditions.
TumaFare: slightly more steps, small fee, full protection. Great for any payment where showing up or delivering actually matters.
tumafare.com — use it when it counts.