KAMPALA — NIC Life Assurance Company and Spades Insurance Brokers have taken family life insurance to mobile phones in a move aimed at widening access to insurance and simplifying the way Ugandans buy and manage cover.
The companies launched the Family Life Insurance Plan (FLIP) on September 24, allowing customers to purchase cover, pay premiums and submit claims without visiting an insurance office.
The product is available through flip.spades.co.ug, where customers can select a package, register family members and make payments using MTN or Airtel Mobile Money.
Annual premiums start at Shs50,000, with customers receiving a digital insurance certificate once payment is completed.
Policyholders can also access, download and renew their policies online using their policy numbers, while claims can be submitted digitally together with the required documents.
The launch comes as insurers increasingly turn to digital platforms to reach customers in a market where insurance uptake remains relatively low.
Christopher Ssengendo, managing director and chief executive officer of Spades Insurance Brokers, said the new platform was intended to remove some of the barriers associated with buying insurance.
“Insurance should not be something families think about only after a loss occurs,” Ssengendo said.
He said FLIP provides families with a simple and affordable way to protect their dependants while making the purchase process more convenient.
Cover for eight family members
Under the product, one policy can cover the main member, one spouse, up to four children or dependants and two parents, giving a maximum of eight people under a single policy.
The cover pays benefits when an insured family member dies and when the principal policyholder suffers permanent total disability.
Death benefits range from Shs4m to Shs16m, depending on the package selected, while permanent total disability benefits range from Shs2m to Shs8m.
The companies said families can choose to receive a cash benefit when a covered member dies, use funeral services provided through accredited funeral partners, or combine the two options, subject to the policy terms and benefit limits.
Allen Amoko, chief executive officer of NIC Life Assurance Company, said the product was designed to provide financial support to families when they face unexpected loss.
“Every family deserves financial protection when life takes an unexpected turn,” Amoko said.
Insurance market grows
The product enters the market at a time when Uganda’s insurance industry is recording strong growth, particularly in life insurance.
Figures from the Insurance Regulatory Authority of Uganda (IRA) cited by the companies show that gross written premiums across the insurance industry increased from Shs1.764 trillion in 2024 to Shs2.024 trillion in 2025, representing a 14.72% rise.
Life insurance accounted for a significant share of the growth, with premiums increasing from Shs702.2b in 2024 to Shs977.6b in 2025.
In the first six months of 2026, total industry premiums reached Shs1.094 trillion, up from Shs1.016 trillion during the same period last year.
Life insurance premiums rose by 30.04% to Shs524.14b over the period.
The companies said the growth shows increasing demand for life insurance, but noted that a large section of the population remains outside the formal insurance market.
To expand distribution, FLIP will also use a referral model under which individuals, companies, SACCOs, associations and agents can earn incentives for successfully referring customers, subject to the programme’s terms.
NIC Life Assurance, a subsidiary of NIC Holdings Limited, was established in 2014 to manage the group’s life insurance and savings business.
Spades Insurance Brokers is a Ugandan insurance brokerage firm. Both companies are licensed by the IRA.
The companies said the combination of mobile payments, digital policy management and a referral network will help take life insurance beyond traditional insurance offices and closer to households.
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