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Insurance access gets a boost in northern Uganda

8 September 2026, 11:20 pm

Prudential Uganda employees and guests pose for a group photograph during the launch of the company’s regional office in Gulu City on September 4, 2026. Photo by Samuel Olara.

By Daniel Omuge

Limited access to insurance and financial planning services in Northern Uganda is coming under fresh attention following the opening of a prudential regional office in Gulu City.

The office, situated at Stanbic Bank Gulu Branch, was officially launched on Friday, September 4th, 2026, as the insurer expands its operations in the region.

The move is expected to increase access to insurance services while creating opportunities for residents to engage with professional financial advisers closer to home.

Prudential Uganda Chief Executive Officer Tetteh Ayitevie says the company sees an opportunity to help individuals and families in the region better prepare for financial risks and plan for the future.

Tetteh Ayitevie, Chief Executive Officer speaking during the launch of prudential in Gulu City

Ayitevie says the company will pay attention to the agricultural sector, where farmers face a number of financial risks and often require reliable savings and protection mechanisms.

Prudential Uganda Chief Executive Officer Tetteh Ayitevie addresses the media following the launch of the company’s regional office in Gulu City.

Prudential Uganda Chief Agency Officer Asiimwe Edgar says the Gulu office will enable the company to engage directly with customers and improve access to financial advice.

He says one of the company’s priorities is to change the perception that insurance is mainly for wealthy individuals and large businesses.

Prudential Uganda Chief Agency Officer Asiimwe Edgar explains the company’s decision to expand its services to Northern Uganda.

The expansion also comes with a push to develop a pool of local financial advisers who understand the economic realities and needs of communities in Northern Uganda.

Asiimwe says Gulu City Council played a role in supporting the establishment of the office, with Gulu’s position as a major commercial centre making it a strategic base for serving the wider region.

Prudential Uganda Chief Agency Officer Asiimwe Edgar explains how Prudential Uganda works, shedding light on its insurance solutions and how the company helps individuals and families protect their futures, plan ahead and achieve greater financial security.

At the launch, Gulu City Mayor Acire Julius Labeja welcomed the investment but urged Prudential to make young people a major target of its financial education programmes.

Labeja says greater awareness of insurance, financial planning and risk management could help young people make better financial decisions.

Gulu City Mayor Julius Labeja, popularly known as Gunya, speaks during the launch of Prudential Uganda’s regional office in Gulu City on September 4, 2026.

The challenge of increasing insurance uptake remains significant, particularly where communities have limited understanding of how insurance works and how it can be incorporated into household financial planning.

Prudential Assurance Uganda has operated in the country since 2014 and provides services including life insurance, health insurance and savings-related products.

The company says it has a network of more than 5,000 agents across Uganda.

According to research published in 2025 by the School of Statistics and Planning at Makerere University, Uganda’s health insurance coverage remains extremely low. The study of 18,506 respondents found that only 23.5% were aware of health insurance, while just 18.8% of those aware had considered joining a scheme, and only1.4% was actually enrolled.