The rapid growth of Uganda’s unit trust market is increasingly being supported by investment agents who are helping new customers enter the market while keeping existing investors engaged with their savings.
This was highlighted at the Old Mutual Investment Group (OMIG) Agents Incentive Awards at Hotel Africana, where 16 agents and 10 units were recognised for their performance during the first half of 2026.
The awards come at a time when Uganda’s unit trust industry is recording strong growth, with OMIG maintaining a leading position in the market.
According to the company’s business update for the first two quarters of 2026, OMIG’s unit trust assets under management reached Shs4.14 trillion by the end of June, accounting for 58.5 per cent of the industry.
The figure represented an increase of Shs306.1 billion between March and June, equivalent to growth of about eight per cent.
Across the industry, unit trust assets increased from Shs6.26 trillion in March to Shs7.08 trillion in June, pointing to growing interest in collective investment products among Ugandans.
OMIG Head of Marketing and Business Development Daniel Opiyo said the growth was being supported not only by the availability of investment products but also by the interaction between agents and customers.
“For many people, the decision to start investing begins with a conversation with an agent. Our responsibility is to make that conversation useful: understand what the customer wants to achieve, explain the options clearly and help them make an informed choice,” Opiyo said.
He said customer retention was equally important because investment growth depends on customers remaining committed to their financial goals after making their initial investment.
The importance of retention was reflected in the awards, with Edmund Tumwesiga emerging as the top performer after retaining Shs12.36 billion in customer investments.
Daniel Gatsinzi was recognised as the second runner-up, having retained Shs8.5 billion in customer investments. Both received overseas trips as part of their recognition.
Other awards were presented under categories including agents with the most clients per month, the top 10 units in Net Client Cash Flow (NCCF), best agents in monthly NCCF and best agents overall for the January-June period.
Old Mutual Investment Group Managing Director Zac Kisesi said agents had become an important link between investment companies and customers, particularly in helping potential investors understand products before committing their money.
“Our agents contribute directly to the growth of our business by bringing in new clients and helping existing customers stay engaged with their investments,” Kisesi said.
He added that trust was central to the relationship, with agents expected to explain investment options, answer customer questions and maintain contact with clients.
The company said it has continued to invest in quarterly training for its agency network, focusing on product knowledge and customer engagement.
The training is intended to equip agents with the skills to explain investment products more clearly and improve customers’ understanding of the risks and opportunities involved.
For the wider industry, the growth in assets under management suggests that collective investment schemes are becoming an increasingly important channel for Ugandans seeking alternatives for saving and investing.
However, sustaining that growth will depend not only on attracting new investors but also on improving financial literacy and ensuring customers understand the products they use.
OMIG said its continued focus on agent development, financial education and customer retention would remain central to its efforts to grow its share of Uganda’s expanding unit trust market.
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