What you need to know:

• Mao says health insurance scheme could transform Uganda. 

The government has urged insurance operators to position themselves for the upcoming national health insurance scheme, saying it presents a major opportunity to expand Uganda’s low insurance penetration, which remains below one percent.

Speaking at the annual 2025 Insurance Agents Awards in Kampala on Thursday, Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Norbert Mao said insurance is central to economic development and investor confidence.

'Insurance is a very important part of the development of any country because it creates confidence in the economy,' Mao said.

He called for stronger public sensitisation to improve understanding and uptake of insurance products, noting that government was actively discussing the proposed health insurance framework.

'Let people know what insurance is all about. The government is now discussing health insurance. It’s a big opportunity and we are willing to work with you to ensure that people understand that development demands insurance because uncertainties are there in life,' he said.

Mao warned against overly technical communication in the sector, urging insurers to simplify messaging for the public.

'We are not living in the times of Noah. There’s no one going to build an ark when the floods come. So people must make individual decisions. Don’t use language which is too high voltage, which electrocutes us. Simplify it,' he said.

Uganda’s insurance penetration remains below one percent of GDP, among the lowest in the region, compared to Kenya at about six percent. However, the sector is growing at roughly 10 percent annually, driven by digital expansion and microinsurance products, according to the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA).

Mao said the anticipated health insurance scheme would be a key driver of sector growth if properly implemented.

Call for ethics and professionalism.

Uganda Insurers Association (UIA) chief executive officer Jonan Kisakye called on insurance operators to uphold ethics, discipline and professionalism to strengthen public trust.

'We must provide clarity, not confusion, because many disputes arise from misinformation. Performance cannot be accidental; it must be structured, disciplined and ethical,' Kisakye said.

He emphasised the need for proper data management and accountability across the industry.

'We must take responsibility for our professional growth and compliance and treat our work not just as a job but as a profession. At the heart of it, we have the responsibility to move this industry forward and to turn the one percent insurance penetration into history,' he said.

The annual awards, organised by UIA, recognise outstanding performance and contribution by insurance agents in Uganda’s insurance sector.

Source: The Daily Monitor (click here to view)