The Buganda Kingdom has partnered with Jubilee Life Insurance Uganda to launch a new community-focused insurance plan.
Named Tubeere Balamu Yinsuwa—literally translated as “We Should Be Healthy”—the scheme will enable members of the public to pay an annual premium of only shs198,000 and access basic medical care. This includes treatment for common illnesses such as malaria, typhoid, and respiratory infections.
The plan also provides support during hospital stays and offers financial protection in cases of death, disability, or serious illness.
The CEO of Jubilee Life Insurance Uganda, Eugine Mutekhele, described the initiative as a game-changer that shifts communities from reliance on short-term medical camps to sustainable health coverage.
“Health challenges do not end when medical camps conclude. Illness does not wait for the next outreach. Families continue to struggle silently, facing difficult choices between seeking treatment and meeting daily needs. With this new plan, we move from temporary relief to sustainable healthcare protection,” Mutekhele said.
Citing data from the 2024 National Housing and Population Census, Mutekhele noted that out of Uganda’s 45 million people, only about 500,000 have some form of health insurance. Meanwhile, 30% of households spend at least 40% of their income on healthcare.
He added that only 11% of the population—about 4.5 million people—understand how insurance works. Coverage is largely concentrated among those with higher education levels and stable incomes.
“There are those who need insurance but do not believe it will work for them, and those who feel they do not need it yet. Tubeere Balamu Yinsuwa is not just an insurance plan—it is a community solution. It is affordable, practical, and focused on the real health challenges people face daily,” he said.
Mutekhele emphasized that the initiative will reduce the need for families to sell assets or take on expensive loans to cover medical expenses. The company aims to enroll over 100,000 members across the kingdom.
“This is ambitious, but achievable—with the support of the kingdom’s trusted leadership structures,” he added.
The Katikkiro of Buganda, Charles Peter Mayiga, said the kingdom has long prioritized the health of its people.
“In the 13th century, the kingdom designated two clans—the Ngeye and Ngabi Nyunga—as custodians of health, with their leaders serving as Surgeon General and Orthopedic Surgeon General, respectively,” Mayiga said.
He added that during the colonial period, the kingdom continued to emphasize healthcare, establishing some of the earliest health facilities. Notably, in 1914, Kabaka Daudi Chwa II built one of the country’s first hospitals in the Ssese Islands on Lake Victoria.
Mayiga further highlighted that under the reign of Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, the kingdom continues to prioritize health through immunization programs, nutrition initiatives, HIV/AIDS awareness, and health camps organized by the Kabaka Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry of Health.
“This demonstrates that the kingdom has always placed the health of its people at the forefront,” he said.
He welcomed the new insurance plan as a timely intervention to promote health and overall well-being.