5th, Dec 2024 Share This

The Uganda Insurers Association (UIA) conducted market visits in Mbarara among the traders & Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to distribute the Traders Insurance Solutions Booklet.  The 3-day visits, in partnership with the Mbarara City Traders Association (MBACITA), was a follow-up exercise on the survey amongst the members of trader associations that was conducted in 2023 whose aim was to identify key risks their businesses were exposed to  and devise  interventions to safeguard their businesses against risks.

The exercise began with a stop at the Mbarara City Traders Association (MBACITA) offices, where our team led by our Research Officer, Angella Kemigisa and Projects Administrator, Angella Eryenyu, officially handed over the Traders Insurance Solutions Booklets to the MBACITA Chairman, Mr. Ssezi Mwijuka. This booklet is a product of comprehensive research that was conducted in 2023 among members of MBACITA, Mbale City Traders Association (MACITA), and Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA), to provide a detailed overview of common risks their businesses were exposed to, the insurance solutions available to mitigate the risks and resourceful contacts that can be reached out to for support.

UIA's Research Officer, Angella Kemigisa officially hands over the Traders Insurance Solutions Booklets to the MBACITA Chairman, Mr. Ssezi Mwijuka

Day 2 saw our Team engage with over 50 traders in Mbarara on Insurance whilst sharing with them the Traders Insurance Solutions Booklets. The traders were largely enthusiastic about the booklets and appreciated them as a resource for practical insights into key risks and the insurance solutions available to mitigate them. They were also grateful for the simplification of processes like filing for claims captured therein.  

The momentum didn’t wane on Day 3, as the team was joined by Mr. Mwijuka in traversing the outskirts of Mbarara’s business hubs. The major focus was to foster a deeper understanding of the value of insurance among SMEs, traders, and taxi drivers. This, the team achieved by making use of real-life examples, to demonstrate how insurance acts as a safety net for businesses against shocks in an unpredictable economic environment.

 MBACITA Chairman, Mr. Ssezi Mwijuka (Left), UIA's Research Officer, Angella Kemigisa (second from right) and Projects Administrator, Angella Eryenyu (Right), hand over the Traders Insurance Solutions Booklet to a Mbarara business community trader

The 3-day exercise aimed to strengthen trust in insurance and promote a culture of preparedness within Mbarara’s trading community. Traders shared valuable feedback, revealing a growing appreciation for insurance as a vital tool to sustain and grow their businesses. The engagement was in furtherance of our commitment to driving economic growth through effective risk management. By interfacing with traders at their business premises, we reinforced our commitment to making insurance accessible, practical, and meaningful for everyone.

Together with partners like MBACITA, MACITA, and KACITA, UIA seeks to play a critical role in building a resilient and prosperous business community. The development and distribution of the Traders Insurance Solutions Booklets coupled with interactive engagements with the traders, form a vital component in the Association’s efforts to enhance their knowledge, appreciation of insurance and create awareness about the available insurance solutions. This would in inspire confidence in insurance as a driver for business sustainability & financial stability.