New Insurance Scheme Secures Migrant Workers
Kampala, Uganda – In a significant development aimed at safeguarding Ugandan migrant workers, NIC Life Assurance in partnership with Spades Insurance Brokers has officially launched the Migrant Workers Insurance Scheme. The initiative comes at a time when many Ugandans are increasingly seeking employment abroad, only to encounter a host of challenges including exploitation, poor working conditions, and even death.
For years, these issues have been a daily reality for many migrant workers. According to Hajj Ibrahim Bogere, Vice Chairman of the Uganda Association of External Recruitment Agencies (UAERA), the industry continues to face serious obstacles—particularly the ineffectiveness of insurance coverage once workers arrive in their destination countries.
“We are still facing so many challenges, and one of them is that the insurance offered to our workers doesn’t work effectively abroad,” said Hajj Bogere.
To change this narrative, NIC Life Assurance and Spades Insurance Brokers have introduced a comprehensive insurance policy tailored to migrant workers. The scheme is designed to provide compensation in cases of death, illness, disability, and other unforeseen incidents while also covering labor externalization companies.
Anthony Joseph Lubandi, Executive Director of NIC Life Assurance, emphasized the broader impact of the initiative.
“This is not just a scheme but a promise to our migrant workers. It’s a commitment to create a safety net that includes repatriation, death compensation, and more,” Lubandi said.
He adds that the insurance plan is highly affordable, priced at only UGX 10,417 per month, making it accessible to most Ugandan migrant workers and their employers.
Christopher Ssengendo, Executive Director of Spades Insurance Brokers, has also presented alarming statistics during the launch. He revealed that the number of migrant worker deaths has been steadily rising—from 15 in 2019 to 41 in 2023.
“These numbers show a growing crisis that requires immediate intervention,” said Ssengendo.
He provided a detailed breakdown of the benefits under the new policy including Death UGX 30 million compensation ,Disability: UGX 20 million, Illness: UGX 15 million, School fees: UGX 5 million for children if the breadwinner dies, Repatriation: USD 250 return ticket, Replacement costs USD 350 for labor externalisation companies
Alhaji Kadunabbi Lubega, CEO of the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA), applauded the timing and relevance of the policy.
“This insurance scheme comes at a critical time. It will address major challenges faced by workers, employers, and recruitment agencies,” he said.
He has urged all migrant workers to enrol in the policy before leaving the country, emphasizing its role in securing their future and that of their families.
Alhaji Kadunabbi has also referenced a February 2025 report by Business Insider, which highlighted that migrant worker remittances contribute over USD 600 million annually to Uganda’s economy—underscoring their importance to national development.
Milton Turyasima, Assistant Commissioner at the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, welcomed the launch, noting that the ministry had been working on developing a broader welfare plan for migrant workers. He stated that this scheme is a timely step in the right direction.
“This product is coming at the right time when Uganda is taking a proper direction in the protection and welfare of its migrant labor force,” he said.
With more Ugandans seeking employment abroad, the Migrant Workers Insurance Scheme is a crucial and timely intervention aimed at protecting their rights, welfare, and contributions to the country’s economy. Stakeholders from across the public and private sectors have rallied behind this scheme, seeing it as a transformative step in the labor export sector.
