The Bank of Uganda (BoU) has warned the public against using Uganda Shilling banknotes in money bouquets and other decorative gift items, saying the practice damages currency and wastes public resources.
In a statement issued on Friday, Kenneth Egesa, the Director of Communications and Public Relations at the Bank of Uganda, said many people are destroying new banknotes by sticking, pinning, or taping them together to make flower-like gifts for weddings, birthdays and other celebrations.
“The public is cautioned against any practice that mutilates, defaces, or compromises the integrity of Uganda Shilling currency,” Egesa said. “This includes using brand-new notes in bouquets where they are glued, taped, pinned or clipped together.”
He explained that once banknotes are damaged in this way, they can no longer be used in ATMs and cash-counting machines, which are important for handling money in banks and businesses.
“These practices destroy the utility of banknotes, making them unusable in cash processing and distribution equipment,” Egesa said, adding that this forces the Bank to remove the notes from circulation and replace them at extra cost.
Egesa noted that while giving money as a gift is allowed, it should be done normally, without damaging the notes.
“Whereas the Bank does not object to using cash as a gift, this exchange should conform to the normal use of currency,” he said.
He added that the Bank of Uganda is committed to protecting the national currency so that it remains useful as a means of payment and a store of value.
