From L-R, Emmanuel Mwaka CEO ICEA LION Life Assurance, Concepta Nambejja Vice President HRMAU, Ambrose Kibuuka CEO ICEA LION General Insurance and Remigious Kaggwa Director Professional Devt HRMAU
As workplaces evolve amid changing labour laws, technological disruption and rising employee expectations, organisations are being challenged to look beyond productivity and profitability to consider how they protect, develop and support the people who drive their success.
That conversation will take centre stage at the third Annual Human Resource Conference, organised by the Human Resource Managers Association of Uganda (HRMAU), scheduled for November 11 and 12 at Serena Hotel in Kampala.
ICEA LION Insurance Uganda has committed Shs15m as a Gold Sponsor of the conference, reaffirming its support for professional development and better workplace practices. The sponsorship was announced during a dummy cheque handover at the company’s head office at Rwenzori Courts, Kampala, on November 9.
Held under the theme, “Law, Labour and the Future: A Policy Conversation on the Changing Workplace,” the conference will bring together human resource practitioners, business leaders, policymakers and industry experts to examine emerging workplace challenges and opportunities.
ICEA LION will be represented by Ambrose Kibuuka, Chief Executive Officer of ICEA LION General Insurance, and Emmanuel Mwaka, Chief Executive Officer of ICEA LION Life Assurance.
Kibuuka will participate in the CEO Roundtable on November 11, from 2:45pm to 3:45pm, under the topic, “CEOs on Trial: Can Purpose and Profit Truly Coexist?” Mwaka will join a fireside discussion on November 12, from 2:25pm to 3:10pm, examining how employment laws, data protection and changing work arrangements are shaping the future of work.
Kibuuka says sustainable business growth depends on organisations recognising employees as central to business performance and treating human resource management as a strategic function.
“Purpose and profitability should not be treated as competing priorities. A business cannot achieve sustainable growth by overlooking the people who deliver its results. Caring for employees must go hand in hand with sound business decisions, responsible leadership and a clear understanding of organizational performance,” he says.
He adds that HR professionals must move beyond administrative responsibilities and take a more strategic role in workforce planning, talent development, managing workplace risks and strengthening organisational culture.
Mwaka says the changing legal environment is reinforcing the need for employers to understand that employee protection is not simply a matter of goodwill or discretionary workplace benefits.
“The Employment (Amendment) Act, 2026 is an important reminder that certain protections must not be treated as privileges that an employer may choose to extend or withdraw. They are rights and obligations that must be respected. Employers must therefore build workplaces where dignity, fairness and compliance are part of everyday practice,” he says.
He says the discussion on employee wellbeing must also extend to financial security, noting that protection against life’s uncertainties should complement the rights and safeguards provided under employment law.
“Employees have families, financial responsibilities and long-term aspirations. They also face uncertainties such as death, disability, critical illness and retirement. Appropriate life assurance and other protection solutions can help safeguard employees and their families when difficult moments arise. These benefits should complement statutory rights, not be presented as substitutes for them,” he says.
Concepta Nambejja, Vice President of HRMAU, says effective human resource management is particularly important in the insurance industry, where expertise, integrity and customer relationships determine service quality.
“Insurance is fundamentally a people-driven business. Behind every policy, claim and customer interaction are professionals whose knowledge, integrity and commitment determine the quality of service delivered. HR professionals play a critical role in attracting, developing and retaining this talent,” she says.
She adds that investment in professional skills and adaptable teams is essential as the industry embraces technology and responds to changing customer expectations.
The third conference builds on the previous two editions, which brought together HR professionals and business leaders to discuss workforce transformation and organisational growth.
The inaugural 2024 conference, held under the theme, “Enabling Employee Experience for More Productivity,” explored employee experience, diversity and inclusion, leadership, labour laws and the impact of artificial intelligence on workplaces.
The 2025 edition, themed “Human Resources as an Enabler: Leading Change, Unlocking Potential and Sustaining Growth,” focused on strategic HR leadership, employee engagement, technology, data-driven decision-making and organisational transformation.
This year’s conference seeks to deepen these conversations, with particular emphasis on employment policy, professional standards, leadership and the future of work.
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