Old Mutual Uganda has launched Thrive by Old Mutual, a wellness application designed to help Ugandans take a more active role in improving their financial, physical, mental, nutritional, and overall wellbeing.
The app was unveiled at the Thrive Launch at MoTIV, Bugolobi, bringing together customers, partners, wellness professionals, fitness communities, and other stakeholders for an interactive experience built around the different dimensions of holistic wellbeing.
The need for a more holistic approach to wellbeing is becoming increasingly evident in Uganda. The National Planning Authority’s State of Uganda Population Report 2025, themed “Mental Health: A Silent Emergency”, reports that mental-health cases increased by more than 71% between 2021 and 2024, with nearly one in four Ugandans affected.
These challenges do not exist in isolation. Financial pressures, physical health, nutrition, and mental wellbeing are closely connected to how people work, make decisions, manage relationships and plan for the future. This creates a need for approaches to wellbeing that recognize the whole individual rather than addressing different aspects of life separately.
Thrive responds to this need by bringing financial, physical, nutritional, and mental wellness resources together in one digital experience, giving users access to practical information, tools and support designed to help them make more informed choices about their overall wellbeing.
Speaking at the launch, Zac Kisesi, Managing Director, Old Mutual Investment Group Uganda, said financial wellness remains an essential part of a person’s overall wellbeing. “Financial wellbeing is not simply about how much money a person earns; it is about the confidence to make informed decisions, plan for the future and steadily work towards the life you want. Through Thrive, we make financial wellness more accessible and practical by helping people build better habits and engage with their financial goals as part of everyday life.”
Andrew Makumbi, Managing Director, Old Mutual Insurance Uganda, added that Thrive represents an evolution in the role insurers can play in customers’ lives, moving from responding when something goes wrong to helping people live healthier, more resilient lives every day. “Insurance has always been about protecting what matters to people. However, protection should also mean helping customers reduce risk, build healthier lifestyles and make choices that strengthen their overall wellbeing. Thrive enables us to engage with customers before a difficult moment occurs and to become a more relevant partner in their everyday lives.” He noted that this approach is closely aligned with Old Mutual’s commitment to helping customers protect and grow what matters most to them.
Patrick Kimathi, Managing Director, Old Mutual Life Assurance Uganda, said the launch also reinforces the importance of taking a long-term view of wellbeing. “Life assurance is fundamentally about preparing for the future and protecting the people and goals that matter most. A secure future is shaped by the decisions we make every day, how we look after our health, how we manage our finances and how intentionally we plan for tomorrow. Thrive brings that long term thinking into people’s daily routines.”
Uganda’s growing digital connectivity is also changing how people access information, services and support. According to the Uganda Communications Commission’s (UCC) Q2 2026 Market Performance Report, active mobile internet subscriptions increased from 17.9 million in March to 19.7 million by June 2026, representing a 10% increase in just one quarter. During the same period, active mobile subscriptions grew from 47.5 million to 49 million. The figures point to a rapidly expanding digital audience and an opportunity to make essential information, tools and support more accessible through digital platforms.
The launch event brings the Thrive experience to life through a range of wellness activities. These include fitness sessions and challenges, financial and mental wellness conversations, meditation, yoga and relaxation experiences, as well as nutrition consultations and healthy food experiences.
Rewards are an important part of the Thrive proposition. The Thrive plan envisages users being able to access benefits and vouchers from selected partners when they achieve wellness challenges through the app, providing an additional incentive to turn positive intentions into consistent action.
Through Thrive, Old Mutual is seeking to establish a sustained wellness community, encouraging people to make consistent improvements for holistic wellness through financial, physical, mental and nutritional wellbeing. Thrive by Old Mutual is available for download at no cost from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
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