The Uganda Insurers Association (UIA), in partnership with the Ministry of Gender, Labour & Social Development, convened a pivotal Consultative Stakeholder Meeting on 4th July 2024 at Mbale Courts View Hotel in the Eastern Region. This gathering focused on refining the Draft Guidelines on Computation of Workers’ Compensation, aiming to streamline processes crucial for safeguarding employees' welfare.
Coordinating the event, Gilbert Emojong, our Non-Life Technical Assistant, accentuated UIA's multifaceted mandate, which includes advocacy, public awareness campaigns on insurance benefits, and active lobbying for regulatory enhancements. He highlighted the fundamental role of the Workers’ Compensation guidelines within the insurance framework, stressing insurers' critical involvement as risk carriers in the compensation process. He expressed gratitude to the Ministry for acting proactively towards revising the guidelines, addressing previous ambiguities, and conducting extensive consultations across Uganda's diverse regions: Central, West, North, and now East.
Apollo Onzoma, Assistant Commissioner of Industrial Relations at the Ministry of Gender, Labour & Social Development, underscored the guidelines' significance not only to industry experts but also to the wider insurance community. Onzoma reaffirmed the universal right to workplace protection, acknowledging the inherent risks faced by workers despite regulatory safeguards.
Martha Irankunda, Labour Support Officer for Industrial Relations, provided a comprehensive overview of the Workers Compensation Act Cap. 225, emphasizing its pivotal role in providing both wage replacement and medical benefits to injured employees, marking its alignment with broader insurance principles. Doreen Nakubulwa, Senior Claims Manager at Britam Uganda, identified key challenges faced by insurers, notably inconsistencies in medical assessments, and emphasized the urgent need for improved collaboration between insurers and medical professionals to ensure accurate assessments and fair compensation outcomes. Nakubulwa called upon UIA to facilitate ongoing education initiatives for medical practitioners and the Ministry to enhance claimant awareness to streamline the compensation process.
Jerome Onyango, District Labour Officer for Tororo District, closed the session with heartfelt gratitude to UIA for facilitating the workshop. He advocated for enhanced harmonization of compensation processes and recommended extending the consultation period to deepen stakeholders' understanding of the Compensation Act's intricacies. Onyango requested UIA's continued support in ensuring local governments adhere to these guidelines and effectively implement insurance protections for workers.
The Mbale consultation deepened UIA's collaborative efforts with the Ministry and stakeholders to refine Workers’ Compensation guidelines, enhancing protections for Uganda's workforce. The meeting provided a pivotal platform for constructive dialogue, aiming to foster more effective and inclusive insurance practices across the region.
