In a move to strengthen the resilience of the agriculture sector and the entire population, Ugandans have been urged to embrace insurance to safeguard themselves, loved ones and their investments against unforeseen risks.
The call was made by the Bushenyi Deputy District Resident Commissioner (RDC), Mr. William Kasigazi during a two-day sensitization workshop organised by the Insurance Regulatory Authority of Uganda (IRA) at Bellline Hotel, Ishaka from April 29 to 30th, 2025.
The workshop drew participants from the districts of Bushenyi, Sheema, Mitooma, Buhweju and Rubirizi, including district production officers, Commercial officers, community leaders, business people and model farmers.
“This region faces so many risks like hailstones that destroy huge plantations and the foot and mouth and anthrax diseases that affect livestock yet you have no one to run to. Let insurance be your run-to friend in case such risks occur; embrace it today because it will help you bounce back into business in the shortest time possible,” Mr. Kasigazi said.
He added that beyond risk mitigation, insurance is a powerful driver of financial inclusion, adding that by minimizing the perceived risk especially for agricultural projects, insured farmers are increasingly able to access credit from banks to enable them invest more confidently in modern farming practices.
The Bushenyi District Chairperson, Hon. Jafari Basajjabalaba applauded the IRA for organizing the training, saying it was timely.
He also alluded to the need for the people in western Uganda to embrace insurance, noting that it will help them share risks instead of shouldering them on their own.
He noted that while the community has a local insurance model in place where people come together in case of loss of a loved one, it does not help them in case of investment-related losses unlike insurance.
“Insurance is very important, we need to take it seriously and do the needful. As leaders, we need to embrace insurance first so that we lead by example,” he said.
Agriculture insurance should be mandatory
He proposed that in addition to the National Health Insurance Scheme which is in offing, agriculture insurance should also be made mandatory to all farmers across the country to shield them against the risks that are threatening the sustainability of the sector.
The Director Strategy & Market Development, IRA, Mr. Protazio Sande also alluded to the need for all Ugandans to embrace insurance, saying it is a risk mitigation tool that everybody should have for their lives, families and businesses, noting that it will help them plan for risks they cannot avoid.
“Hope is good but it is not a strategy because things change. With climate change here with us, it is impossible to predict what will happen tomorrow,” he said.
He added: “A business without proper risk management is like flying an earoplane without a campus. Insurance should be your campus to help you fly and land safely.”
He emphasized that insurance is for everyone not only the rich as some people perceive it to be.
While emphasizing the game-changing potential of agriculture insurance,
Mr. John Makosya, the Chief Operations and Impact Officer, Agro Consortium urged farmers to form organised structures to be served better.