Uganda’s agricultural insurance programme offers government subsidies of up to 80% of premiums in drought-prone areas, seeking to help farmers recover from weather-related losses and protect their investments.
Small-scale farmers in Uganda are being encouraged to take up agricultural insurance under a government-backed scheme designed to protect them against losses caused by drought, floods, hailstorms, crop diseases and other farming risks.
Under the Uganda Agriculture Insurance Scheme, the government covers 50% of farmers’ insurance premiums, while farmers pay the remaining half. The government contribution rises to 80% for farmers in drought-prone areas.
Minister of State for the Luweero Triangle Alice Kaboyo said the programme was intended to make agricultural insurance more affordable, particularly for small-scale farmers who often struggle to recover their investments after poor harvests.
“The government is committed to supporting farmers through this scheme to ensure that they are protected against losses resulting from unfavourable weather conditions and other agricultural risks,” Kaboyo said.
She urged farmers to take advantage of the programme to minimise losses and sustain investment in agriculture despite increasingly unpredictable weather conditions.
Kaboyo also called on communities to embrace tree planting and environmental conservation, saying environmental degradation contributes to prolonged droughts that affect agricultural production.
“We need to embrace tree planting and protect the environment because environmental degradation contributes to prolonged drought, which affects our farmers and agricultural production,” she said.
Agriculture remains a major source of livelihood in Uganda, but farmers face recurring risks, including prolonged dry spells, flooding, hailstorms and crop and livestock diseases. Such shocks can destroy harvests, reduce household incomes and leave farmers struggling to finance the next planting season.
In Luweero District, farmers have organised themselves under Luweero Farmers and Housing Cooperative Limited, which has more than 5,000 members, to access the insurance initiative.
The cooperative’s secretary, Eddie Mugerwa, said the scheme would help farmers protect their investments against drought and crop diseases, which frequently disrupt production and household incomes.
“Through this scheme, farmers will be able to protect their investments against risks such as drought and crop diseases instead of losing everything when their crops are destroyed,” Mugerwa said.
He urged farmers to embrace agricultural insurance, saying it could help them recover from losses and avoid abandoning farming after successive poor seasons.
More than 10 insurance companies, including Jubilee Insurance and Lion Insurance, are expected to participate in implementing the scheme.
Farmers are expected to receive compensation within six weeks of submitting claims, according to the information provided about the programme.
The initiative is intended to strengthen farmers’ resilience to climate-related shocks, safeguard agricultural investments and reduce the risk of food insecurity among farming households.