BEIJING--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct 28, 2025--
Alipay+, Ant International’s global wallet gateway, and HUMO, the national payment system in Uzbekistan, announced the partnership in Beijing to facilitate inbound and outbound cross-border QR payments. The Octomobile app by Octobank will be the first Uzbek e-wallet integrated with Alipay+, with more HUMO-connected local e-wallets and bank apps expected to join by the end of the year.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251027737149/en/
HUMO has become the tenth national QR code network to partner with Alipay+. In the initial phase, HUMO users from Uzbekistan will be able to travel in China and over 50 other countries—including Kazakhstan, Thailand, UAE, United States and beyond—effortlessly for payments in Uzbek som through their preferred home payment methods / banking apps, across their travel experience, including retail, dining and transportation.
Alipay+ now partners with 40 e-wallets and bank apps and 10 national QR payment schemes and payment systems worldwide, connecting over 100 million merchants to 1.8 billion consumers accounts. Leveraging this extensive connectivity, Uzbek merchants can now seamlessly accept payments from users of Alipay+ connected wallets and apps worldwide—creating new global opportunities and driving growth at scale.
In China, Ant International has established itself as the largest inbound payment facilitator in terms of coverage, use cases, and business volume, backed by a leading-scale ecosystem that supports 7 international card brands and 31 e-wallets from 12 countries and regions. Kaspi, Kazakhstan's largest e-wallet, is also accepted in China, joining HUMO from Uzbekistan in a growing payments interoperability from Central Asia.
Alipay+ began as a cross-border payment technology solution dedicated to advancing global connectivity. Today, through collaboration with global e-wallet partners and the application of AI payments, marketing and digitalization technologies, it is catalysing the development of new travel habits, enhancing payment security, and promoting inclusive economic growth.
As travellers increasingly rely on technology to enhance their journeys, Alipay+ has launched Alipay+ Voyager, an AI travel agent integrated into digital wallets. This always-on service enhances travel experiences for users while helping partner wallets engage travellers with personalized interactions.
With digital wallets becoming preferred payment methods globally, Alipay+ is reinforcing its commitment to secure transactions through the newly launched "Digital Wallet Guardian Partnership". Under this initiative, partner wallets will adopt the Alipay+ EasySafePay 360 solution, an AI-powered protection system that uses real-time analysis and privacy computing to reduce account takeover risks by up to 90% while safeguarding user privacy. AlipayHK and TNG eWallet are the pilot partners in this program.
Maksad Mukhitdinov, First Deputy to Chairman of the Board, HUMO said:" We are glad to partner with Ant International's Alipay+ in this milestone collaboration. This partnership not only enables seamless global travel for Uzbek users but also creates tangible growth opportunities for businesses. As an integral part of Uzbekistan's payment system, HUMO is connected to 35 local banks and 42 non-bank financial institutions. We look forward to achieving more with Alipay+."
Edward Yue, Alipay+ General Manager for SEA, ANZ and South Asia, Ant International said: “We are delighted to partner with HUMO, expanding Alipay+’s reach across Central Asia to over 45 million digital wallet users. The payment link will enhance the travel experience for Uzbek tourists with easy payments, attractive offers, and digital services. It will also help local merchants welcome international tourists and boost Uzbekistan's tourism economy.”
About Alipay+
Ant International's Alipay+ is a global wallet gateway with cross-border payment and digitisation services that help connect global merchants to consumers. Consumers enjoy seamless payments a broad choice of deals and the convenience of digital services using their preferred payment app/e-wallet while travelling abroad. Many small and medium-sized businesses already use Alipay+ digital tools to enhance efficiency and achieve omni-channel growth.
The delegation from HUMO and Octomobile experienced Alipay+ payments at Beijing's Wukesong Wanda Plaza
KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Uganda’s presidential election was plagued by widespread delays Thursday in addition to a days-long internet shutdown that has been criticized as an anti-democratic tactic in a country where the president has held office since 1986.
Some polling stations remained closed for up to four hours after the scheduled 7 a.m. start time due to “technical challenges," according to the nation's electoral commission, which asked polling officers to use paper registration records to ensure the difficulties did not “disenfranchise any voter.”
President Yoweri Museveni, 81, faces seven other candidates, including Robert Kyagulanyi, a musician-turned-politician best known as Bobi Wine, who is calling for political change.
The East African country of roughly 45 million people has 21.6 million registered voters. Polls were expected to close at 4 p.m., but voting was extended one hour until 5 p.m. local time. Results are constitutionally required to be announced in 48 hours.
In the morning, impatient crowds gathered outside polling stations expressing concerns over the delays. Umaru Mutyaba, a polling agent for a parliamentary candidate, said it was “frustrating” to be waiting outside a station in the capital Kampala.
“We can’t be standing here waiting to vote as if we have nothing else to do," he said.
Wine, the candidate, alleged electoral fraud, noting that biometric voter identification machines were not working at polling places and claiming that there was “ballot stuffing.”
Wine wrote in a post on X that his party's leaders had been arrested. “Many of our polling agents and supervisors abducted, and others chased off polling stations,” the post said.
Museveni told journalists he was notified that biometric machines weren't working at some stations and that he supported the electoral body's decision to revert to paper registration records. He did not comment on allegations of fraud.
Ssemujju Nganda, a prominent opposition figure and lawmaker seeking reelection in Kira municipality, told The Associated Press he had been waiting in line to vote for three hours.
Nganda said the delays likely would lead to apathy and low turnout in urban areas where the opposition has substantial support. "It’s going to be chaos,” he said.
Nicholas Sengoba, an independent analyst and newspaper columnist, said delays to the start of voting in urban, opposition areas favored the ruling party.
Emmanuel Tusiime, a young man who was among dozens prevented from entering a polling station in Kampala past closing time said the officials had prevented him from participating.
“My vote has not been counted, and, as you can see, I am not alone," he said he was left feeling “very disappointed.”
Uganda has not witnessed a peaceful transfer of presidential power since independence from British colonial rule six decades ago.
Museveni has served the third-longest term of any African leader and is seeking to extend his rule into a fifth decade. The aging president’s authority has become increasingly dependent on the military led by his son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
Museveni and Wine are reprising their rivalry from the previous election in 2021, when Wine appealed to mostly young people in urban areas. With voter turnout of 59%, Wine secured 35% of the ballots against Museveni’s 58%, the president’s smallest vote share since his first electoral campaign three decades ago.
The lead-up to Thursday's election produced concerns about transparency, the possibility of hereditary rule, military interference and possible vote tampering.
Uganda's internet was shut down Tuesday by the government communications agency, which cited misinformation, electoral fraud and incitement of violence. The shutdown has affected the public and disrupted critical sectors such as banking.
There has been heavy security leading up to voting, including military units deployed on the streets this week.
Amnesty International said security forces are engaging in a “brutal campaign of repression,” citing a Nov. 28 opposition rally in eastern Uganda where the military blocked exits and opened fire on supporters, killing one person.
Museveni urged voters to come out in large numbers during his final rally Tuesday.
“You go and vote, anybody who tries to interfere with your freedom will be crushed. I am telling you this. We are ready to put an end to this indiscipline,” he said.
The national electoral commission chairperson, Simon Byabakama, urged tolerance among Ugandans as they vote.
“Let us keep the peace that we have,” Byabakama said late Wednesday. “Let us be civil. Let us be courteous. Let’s be tolerant. Even if you know that this person does not support (your) candidate, please give him or her room or opportunity to go and exercise his or her constitutional right."
Authorities also suspended the activities of several civic groups during the campaign season. That Group, a prominent media watchdog, closed its office Wednesday after the interior ministry alleged in a letter that the group was involved in activities “prejudicial to the security and laws of Uganda.”
Veteran opposition figure Kizza Besigye, a four-time presidential candidate, remains in prison after he was charged with treason in February 2025.
Uganda opposition presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, known as Bobi Wine, right, greets election observers, including former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, at his home in Magere village on the outskirts of Kampala, Uganda, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Hajarah Nalwadda)
Billboards of Uganda President and National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential candidate Yoweri Museveni are seen in Kampala, Uganda, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Samson Otieno)
Electoral workers deliver ballot boxes to a polling station during presidential election in Kampala, Uganda, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
Voters are reflected in a police officer's sunglasses as they wait in line after voting failed to start on time due to system failures during presidential election in Kampala, Uganda, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
Voters wait to cast their ballots during the presidential election in Kampala, Uganda, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
