Plan for a goal
Emergency fund calculator
Add up what you must pay every month even if your income stops. See how much to keep aside, and where people commonly keep it.
Example figures. Change them to your own monthly essentials.
Months to cover
3 or 6 months are common choices.
Your emergency fund target
- Monthly essentials
- UGX 2,100,000
- Target for 3 months
- UGX 6,300,000
Where people commonly keep it
Options you can usually reach within days.
Money market fund (Old Mutual only)
Usually within a few working days. Check the fund's terms.
On UGX 6,300,000: about UGX 790,650 a year, before tax
Rate used: 12.55% Old Mutual Umbrella Trust Fund, Old Mutual only, 20 Oct 2026 (Old Mutual Uganda fund prices)
See ratesSavings account
Any time. Watch the monthly charges on small balances.
On UGX 6,300,000: about UGX 252,000 a year, before tax
Rate used: 4.00% typical top rate (median of banks' maximums), 1 Apr 2026 (BoU bank rate sheet)
See rates
Fixed deposits and treasury bills lock money for a term, so they suit money you won't need suddenly. Lesson 1: the basics
General information based on today's published rates, not advice for your situation.
How we calculate this
Add up what you must pay every month even if your income stops: rent, food, transport, school fees and loan repayments. Multiply by the number of months you want to cover. Three to six months is a common choice; people with irregular income often aim for more.
An emergency fund is only useful if you can reach it within days, so we list only options you can usually withdraw from quickly.
Worked example
Example figures for one household.
- Monthly essentials
- UGX 2,100,000
- 3 months
- UGX 6,300,000
- 6 months
- UGX 12,600,000