The Buganda Kingdom has partnered with Jubilee Life Insurance Uganda to introduce a new affordable health insurance plan aimed at improving access to medical care in communities.
The new scheme, called Tubeere Balamu Yinsuwa, which means “We Should Be Healthy,” will allow people to pay an annual premium of shs198,000 and receive basic medical treatment. The cover includes treatment for common illnesses such as malaria, typhoid, and respiratory infections, as well as support during hospital admission and financial protection in case of death, disability, or serious illness.
Speaking at the launch, Jubilee Life Insurance Uganda CEO Eugine Mutekhele said the initiative is designed to provide long-term health protection instead of relying on short-term medical camps.
He explained that many families struggle to access healthcare after medical camps end because illness can occur at any time. According to him, the new insurance plan will help communities move from temporary medical support to sustainable healthcare coverage.
Mutekhele noted that health insurance coverage in Uganda remains very low. Data from the 2024 National Housing and Population Census shows that out of 45 million Ugandans, only about 500,000 people have health insurance. He added that many households spend a large part of their income on medical expenses, while few people understand how insurance works.
He said Tubeere Balamu Yinsuwa is designed as a practical and affordable solution for ordinary people and will reduce the burden of selling property or taking expensive loans to pay hospital bills. Jubilee Life Insurance aims to register over 100,000 members across Buganda through the kingdom’s leadership structures.
Buganda Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga welcomed the initiative, saying the kingdom has always prioritized the health of its people.
He explained that even in the 13th century, Buganda had designated clans responsible for health services, and later established some of the earliest health facilities during the colonial period. He cited the construction of a hospital in the Ssese Islands in 1914 by Kabaka Daudi Chwa II as part of the kingdom’s commitment to healthcare.
Mayiga added that under Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, the kingdom continues to support health programs such as immunization, nutrition campaigns, HIV/AIDS awareness, and medical camps through the Kabaka Foundation and the Ministry of Health.
He described the new insurance plan as a timely initiative that will improve the well-being of Buganda’s people and strengthen community healthcare systems.
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