As Valentine’s Day approaches, the Bank of Uganda (BoU) has warned the public against using banknotes as decorative gifts, saying the practice damages the country’s currency.
In a public notice issued this week, the central bank cautioned Ugandans against making money bouquets and other decorative cash arrangements, a trend that has become popular during Valentine’s Day celebrations. These displays often involve folding, gluing, pinning, or taping banknotes into flower-like designs.
The Bank of Uganda said such practices damage banknotes and make them unfit for use in ATMs and cash-counting machines. According to the bank, this disrupts the cash distribution system and forces the early removal of damaged notes from circulation, leading to unnecessary replacement costs that are ultimately borne by the public.
BoU specifically warned florists, event planners, gift designers, and their clients to stop using banknotes and coins for decorative purposes. The bank noted that the use of glue, pins, cello tape, and other materials defaces currency and violates regulations governing the proper use of money.
However, the central bank clarified that it does not object to cash being given as a gift. It emphasized that money should be exchanged in its normal form and used only as a means of payment, not as decoration.
“The Bank’s responsibility is to protect the integrity of the Uganda Shilling and ensure it remains a reliable medium of exchange and store of value,” the notice stated.
As couples prepare to celebrate love on February 14, the Bank of Uganda urged the public to find creative ways to express affection without damaging the national currency—reminding Ugandans that while love may be priceless, money must remain usable.
