By Elijah Khisa
The Insurance Training College (ITC) has sensitised more than 500 university students pursuing insurance-related professional courses on the benefits and growing opportunities within Uganda’s insurance sector.
The students were engaged during the 9th John Ssebaana Kizito Memorial Lecture held at Makerere University on August 26, 2026, under the theme, “The Future of Insurance: Empowering Uganda’s Next Generation of Risk Leaders.”
The event was organised by the Insurance Training College.
The acting Chief Executive Officer of the Insurance Regulatory Authority of Uganda (IRA-Uganda), Sande Protazio, urged students pursuing insurance-related courses to embrace the profession, saying the sector continues to present diverse and evolving opportunities.
Protazio, who also serves as the Director of Strategy and Market Development at IRA-Uganda, said the government was committed to supporting the growth of the insurance industry through strengthened professional training and capacity-building initiatives aimed at preparing young people to take advantage of emerging opportunities.
He, however, expressed concern over the low uptake of insurance among Ugandans, noting that insurance penetration in the country remains below one per cent.
Protazio said the insurance sector has significant potential to grow and create employment opportunities for young people, adding that universities and the Insurance Training College were key platforms for providing the technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare the next generation of insurance professionals.
He praised the late John Ssebaana Kizito for his contribution towards the professionalisation of Uganda’s insurance industry, noting that he was among the pioneers behind the establishment of the Insurance College of Uganda in 1964, which has since evolved into the Insurance Training College.
Protazio also raised concern over the low uptake of agricultural insurance, revealing that only 102,785 farmers currently have agricultural insurance cover.
He said the situation exposes the majority of farmers to climate-related shocks and poses a threat to the country’s food security.
He further noted that a large proportion of Ugandans remain uninsured, leaving many households vulnerable to financial shocks arising from health challenges and other risks.
The acting Chief Executive Officer of the Insurance Brokers Association of Uganda (IBAU), Christopher Bakesiga Mugisha, said the association was proud to be part of the memorial lecture and thanked ITC for preserving and promoting the legacy of Ssebaana Kizito.
Mugisha said the lecture provided an opportunity for industry professionals to interact with students who are expected to become the next generation of insurance service providers and brokers.
“Our association, which has 59 members, has come to share with the students professional ethics, principles and good leadership practices as they prepare to become potential future insurance brokers in the country,” he said.
He added that IBAU has continued to conduct insurance brokerage career guidance workshops in various universities, including Kyambogo University, Victoria University and Makerere University Business School (MUBS).
Mugisha said the association plans to engage actuarial science students at Makerere University next month.
“We envisage that by engaging students at university level, they will graduate with the knowledge and exposure required to enter the workplace with confidence,” he said.
The Principal and Chief Executive Officer of ITC, Saul Sseremba, said the symposium enables stakeholders to strengthen their commitment to the growth of the insurance sector by equipping young people with the skills needed to address emerging technical challenges.
He said the industry must prepare professionals capable of responding to new and sophisticated risks, including cybercrime, money laundering and other threats that could affect businesses and other stakeholders.
Sseremba said ITC, which has branches in Mbale, Gulu, Mbarara and Fort Portal, in addition to its headquarters in Kampala, remains committed to building a strong and professional insurance sector capable of addressing the challenges faced by industry players.
“This time, we decided to move away from engaging mainly the business community and agricultural sector and instead focus on offering strategic knowledge and skills to university students undertaking insurance-related courses,” Sseremba said.
He said more than a dozen universities sent students to participate in the memorial lecture.
Sseremba also paid tribute to the late Ssebaana Kizito, describing him as instrumental in building Uganda’s insurance sector and creating opportunities for hundreds of young men and women to pursue careers in the industry.
He encouraged young people across the country to enrol for short courses and other professional insurance programmes, saying the training could enable them to work as insurance agents for commercial banks, industries, organisations and other entities involved in the insurance value chain.
Sseremba added that ITC has established insurance clubs in several universities and tertiary institutions across the country to provide students with practical knowledge and strategic skills in insurance.
The initiative, he said, is intended to improve students’ understanding of insurance products and increase their chances of employment after graduation.
He thanked IRA-Uganda, the Insurance Brokers Association of Uganda, Statewide Insurance Company, which is owned by the late Ssebaana Kizito’s family, and other stakeholders for turning up in large numbers to celebrate the legacy of the late insurance pioneer.
