How to make money on Tiktok”

How Ugandans Are Making Money on TikTok and Instagram

In the last few years, social media has evolved from a place to share selfies into a powerful income-generating platform. For many young Ugandans, TikTok and Instagram have become more than just entertainment—they are tools for building brands, attracting clients, and earning real money.

If you’re wondering how Ugandans are making money on these platforms, this article breaks it down clearly. Whether you want to become a content creator, promote your small business, or earn through brand deals, you’ll find helpful tips and inspiration here.

1. Influencer Marketing: Getting Paid to Promote Brands

Many Ugandan creators earn money by partnering with local and international brands. These partnerships are known as influencer deals.

Here’s how it works:

A company pays a creator to promote their product or service.
The creator makes a short video or photo post showing how the product is used or why it’s worth buying.
This is often seen in fashion, cosmetics, tech gadgets, food, and travel.

Example: Creators like @mclucky_official or @mariam_nk are known for their humorous and engaging TikTok content, which also features products like clothing lines, phones, and local businesses.

Tip: To attract brands:

Be consistent with your content.
Focus on a niche (fashion, comedy, beauty, fitness, etc.).
Grow your engagement (likes, comments, shares matter more than just followers).

2. Selling Products or Services Using Instagram Shops

Instagram has become a free online shop for thousands of Ugandans. Whether you’re selling handmade crafts, second-hand clothes, food, or digital services, Instagram can help you reach more customers.

Here’s how to do it:

Create a business profile.
Post clear, attractive photos or videos of your products.
Use Instagram Stories and Reels to show how your product works.
Include a phone number or WhatsApp link for easy orders.

Examples:

@afriorganics_ug sells organic skincare.
@bargain_finds_256 showcases second-hand shoes and bags.

SEO Tip: Use hashtags like #UgandaBusiness #KampalaDeals #MadeInUganda to be found by people searching for local products.

3. Affiliate Marketing: Earning Commission per Sale

This is one of the easiest ways to make money without owning any products.

How it works:

You promote someone else’s product using a special link.
When someone clicks your link and buys the product, you earn a percentage.

Ugandans are now using TikTok videos or Instagram posts to review gadgets, clothes, or services with affiliate links attached.

Platforms like Jumia Uganda, Amazon, or even local brands now offer affiliate programs.

Example Post: “I got this ring light from Jumia. Click the link in my bio to buy yours and light up your videos!”

4. Paid Shoutouts and Promotions

As you grow your followers, smaller brands may approach you to promote their page or business to your audience. This is called a paid shoutout.

You don’t need 100K followers to get paid. Even with 5,000–10,000 followers, if your engagement is strong, businesses will pay for exposure.

Common rates in Uganda:

UGX 30,000 to UGX 200,000 per post (depending on reach).
Reels and video shoutouts often earn more than photo posts.

To get started:

Add “DM for promotions” in your bio.
Create a rate card with your prices for promotions.

5. Monetizing Live Streams and Gifts on TikTok

TikTok has a Live Gifts feature where followers send virtual gifts that can be converted into money. Many Ugandan creators go live and interact with their followers, sing, dance, or answer questions—and fans send gifts.

To go live on TikTok, you need:

At least 1,000 followers.
Engaging content to keep people watching.

Some Ugandans earn UGX 200,000–500,000 per month just from going live regularly.

6. Becoming a Social Media Manager or Content Creator for Others

Not everyone wants to be in front of the camera—but if you’re good at creating content or editing videos, you can make money managing social media pages for businesses.

Skills you can offer:

Creating Reels or TikTok videos.
Writing captions and scheduling posts.
Running paid ads (Instagram Boosting).
Growing a page organically.

Ugandan businesses are hiring freelance social media managers more than ever—especially small shops, restaurants, or personal brands.

You can find jobs via:

Word of mouth.
Facebook groups.
Freelance platforms like Upwork or Fiverr.

7. Selling Digital Products

Are you skilled in something—graphic design, photography, writing, cooking, or fitness? You can create and sell digital products like:

E-books.
Templates.
Tutorials.
Online courses.

Use Instagram to promote your product and DM or link to payment options like MTN MoMo, Airtel Money, or Flutterwave.

Example: A personal trainer can create a 30-day home workout guide and promote it through Instagram Reels.

8. Comedy and Entertainment Content

Ugandan TikTokers who specialize in comedy skits and relatable content build huge followings fast. These creators often earn money through:

Brand deals.
YouTube monetization (if they repurpose their content).
Paid appearances and events.

Examples: @realkingsaha or @chrislutaaya256 mix humor with trending music and relatable scenarios that go viral easily.

If you’re funny and natural on camera, comedy is a powerful content niche that performs well on TikTok.

9. Promoting Music and Events

Many Ugandan musicians and event organizers now work with TikTokers and Instagram influencers to promote new music, concerts, and shows.

You could:

Dance to a new song in a TikTok challenge.
Share event posters with creative captions.
Do countdown Reels and encourage ticket sales.

As your audience grows, event promoters will pay to use your influence to sell out venues.

Tips to Grow and Succeed on TikTok and Instagram

Be consistent – Post at least 3–5 times a week.
Use trends – Follow trending audio, hashtags, and challenges.
Engage your audience – Reply to comments, run polls or Q&As.
Collaborate – Team up with other creators to cross-promote.
Track performance – Use analytics to know what works and post more of it.

Conclusion

Ugandans are making real money on TikTok and Instagram through creativity, consistency, and strategy. Whether you’re promoting a business, entertaining followers, or offering services, social media is a powerful tool to grow your income in 2025.

Start with what you have. Use your phone, good lighting, and your personality. Over time, your online presence can become your biggest asset.