As Valentine’s Day approaches, the Bank of Uganda has issued a public warning against the misuse of currency banknotes, urging Ugandans to avoid practices that damage or deface the Uganda shilling.
In a statement released on Friday, Kenneth Egesa, the Director of Communications and Public Relations at the central bank, said the Bank is concerned about the growing habit of using money as part of decorative gifts, particularly bouquets created by florists and gifting stylists.
“The public is cautioned against any practice that mutilates, defaces, or compromises the integrity of Uganda shilling currency,” Egesa said.
Uganda will join the rest of the world next Saturday, February 14, to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
In recent years, it has become increasingly common for people to present cash gifts creatively shaped into flowers or assembled into elaborate Valentine’s arrangements.
However, the Bank warned that such practices often involve harmful materials that damage banknotes.
“This mainly involves the use of brand-new banknotes that are stuck together using glue, cello-tape, pins, clips, and other adhesives or fasteners as part of floral bouquets for various social events and gifting ceremonies,” the statement read.
According to the Bank, these actions destroy the usefulness of banknotes and make them difficult to process within the financial system.
“This practice destroys the utility of banknotes, making them unusable in cash processing and distribution equipment such as cash counting machines and ATMs,” the Bank noted.
The central bank added that damaged notes are frequently withdrawn from circulation earlier than necessary, leading to additional costs.
“It also results in the premature withdrawal from circulation and replacement of banknotes at an avoidable cost to the public,” the statement said.
While acknowledging that cash remains a popular and acceptable gift, the Bank emphasised that it should be exchanged in its normal form.
“Whereas the Bank does not object to using cash as a gift, this exchange should conform to the normal use of currency to facilitate payment transactions,” it said.
The Bank of Uganda reaffirmed its mandate to protect the integrity of the national currency.
“Bank of Uganda is committed to safeguarding the integrity of the national currency in circulation to fulfil its functionality as a medium of exchange and store of value,” the statement added.
With Valentine’s Day expected to trigger a surge in gifting and grand gestures, the central bank has urged the public to celebrate responsibly without damaging the currency.
