Britam Uganda and Airtel Mobile Commerce Uganda Limited, the operator of Airtel Money Uganda, have launched a strategic partnership aimed at expanding access to insurance, investment and other regulated financial services through mobile-first digital channels.
The collaboration brings together Britam’s expertise in insurance, life assurance and asset management with Airtel Money’s nationwide digital payments platform and extensive customer network to make financial protection and investment products more accessible to Ugandans.
Launched under the Insurance Ku Ssimu campaign, the initiative seeks to address Uganda’s protection and investment gap by enabling customers to access regulated financial services through the Airtel Money platform. The partners say the move is intended to simplify access to insurance while reducing barriers such as travel, paperwork and lengthy processing times.
According to the two companies, many Ugandans rely on mobile money for daily transactions but remain financially vulnerable to risks such as accidents, illness, death and loss of income, with limited access to affordable insurance and investment opportunities.
The partnership aims to bridge this gap by delivering financial products through a channel already widely used by millions of Ugandans.
The first service to be rolled out under the partnership is Motor Third Party Insurance. Airtel Money customers can purchase the cover by dialling *185*7*6*1#, entering their vehicle details and authorising payment using their Airtel Money PIN. Upon successful payment, customers receive an SMS confirmation and can retrieve their digital Motor Third Party insurance sticker online.
Speaking at the launch, Britam Uganda Managing Director Allan Mafabi said the partnership represents a long-term strategy to improve financial inclusion rather than the introduction of a single insurance product.
“This is a strategic partnership built around impact, not simply a single product. We are bringing together insurance, life assurance and investment expertise with a channel that millions of Ugandans already use. Our ambition is to make financial protection and wealth-building more accessible, and to help households and businesses become better able to withstand shocks and plan for the future,” Mafabi said.
The Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Mobile Commerce Uganda Limited, Japhet Aritho, said mobile money has already transformed financial transactions in Uganda and that the partnership marks the next phase of digital financial inclusion.
“Mobile money has already transformed how Ugandans participate in the economy. The next opportunity is to use that same reach and familiarity to help customers protect what they are building and access more pathways to long-term financial security. Through this partnership, we are moving beyond transactions and using our platform to support inclusion, resilience and meaningful customer outcomes,” Aritho said.
The companies said customer education will form a key component of the rollout, with planned media campaigns, community activations, digital awareness initiatives and live demonstrations to improve understanding of insurance and investment products available through the platform.
Britam and Airtel Money also pledged to continue engaging regulators and industry stakeholders as they introduce additional financial solutions based on customer needs and regulatory approvals.
The partners said the success of the initiative will be measured not only by transaction volumes but also by customer awareness, sustained product usage, service quality and the number of previously underserved Ugandans accessing regulated financial services.
The partnership marks the beginning of a broader effort to bring insurance, investment and other financial protection solutions closer to Ugandans through digital channels, regardless of where they live or how they earn their income.
