How to Send Bulk SMS in Uganda
By Zoril SMS team · Published · Updated
SMS can reach customers, parents or members without a smartphone or a data bundle. Successful delivery still depends on the gateway phone, SIM and mobile network. Start with a clean, authorised list and a controlled test.
1. Prepare a clean contact list
Collect numbers in one spreadsheet with a column for the phone number and, ideally, the person's name. Remove numbers you no longer have permission to message.
- Use a consistent format. Zoril SMS converts 07…, 256… and +256… numbers into one international format automatically.
- Save the sheet as CSV before importing.
- Keep only the fields you need — avoid storing ID numbers or other sensitive data.
2. Write a short, clear message
A single GSM-7 SMS typically holds 160 septets, or 153 per part when concatenated. UCS-2 typically allows 70 code units, or 67 per multipart segment. Some characters consume extra units. Check the part-count preview after personalisation and adding the sender and unsubscribe text; carrier charges may rise with the number of parts.
Start with who you are, state the key information, and end with what the reader should do.
3. Send in batches and respect limits
Use Campaigns for large sends. The worker processes bounded batches and respects gateway throughput and configured account/device limits. A send can pause or fail when a limit is reached or a gateway goes offline; batching does not guarantee completion without interruption. Review progress and attempt records in Campaigns and Gateway Status before resuming.
4. Check delivery reports
Review queued, sent, delivered and failed separately. Sent means the gateway reported sending, not that the recipient received it. A missing delivery report is not conclusive evidence of failure. Check the actual error, SIM balance, phone connectivity and number format before retrying, and reconcile uncertain sends to avoid duplicates.