Partners sign MoU to shield vulnerable farmers from livestock losses
The agreement marks a significant shift in community development, moving beyond simple livestock distribution towards building long-term economic resilience
KAMPALA, April 23, 2026 – In a transformative move for rural smallholder farmers, the Rural Initiative for Poverty Alleviation [RIPA] has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding [MoU] with the Uganda Agriculture Insurance Consortium [UIC] to provide a comprehensive safety net for livestock owners in western Uganda.
The partnership, formalised during a high-level ceremony held recently at UIC headquarters in Naguru, Kampala, is designed to protect vulnerable households from the devastating financial shocks associated with animal mortality and other agricultural risks.
The agreement marks a significant shift in community development, moving beyond simple livestock distribution towards building long-term economic resilience. Under the terms of the MoU, all beneficiaries who have received animals through RIPA projects will now be eligible for insurance cover, protecting their assets against a wide range of risks.
In a major boost to the scheme, the Government of Uganda has committed to meeting 50 per cent of the insurance premiums, leaving beneficiaries to cover the remaining half. The subsidy makes essential financial protection affordable even for the most vulnerable households.
The impact of the scheme is expected to be substantial. In the event of a loss, farmers will be compensated for up to 80 per cent of the estimated value of the animal at the time the cover is taken. This level of compensation is intended to enable families to restock and recover their livelihoods quickly, preventing a slide back into poverty.
For many farmers in areas such as Rubirizi, where a single cow or goat can represent a family’s entire savings, the insurance provides a vital lifeline.
RIPA was represented at the signing by its Vice Chairman, Vincent Tumusiime Bamugaya, and Programme Director, Rosebell Akiiki Tumusiime. The UIC delegation was led by its Chief Executive Officer, Munya, alongside the Company Secretary and other senior officials.
Although the current phase of the scheme applies to cows and goats distributed under RIPA projects, officials said plans are already under way to expand the model to other agricultural enterprises.
These include crop production, poultry and fish farming, with the aim of creating a comprehensive agricultural insurance framework that safeguards farmers’ investments across multiple value chains.
The milestone is being hailed as a major boost for rural communities, offering greater security and encouraging more households to participate in commercial agriculture with increased confidence.
RIPA is a non-governmental organisation based in Rubirizi, with operations extending to nearby districts including Sheema, Bushenyi and Kasese.
The Uganda Agriculture Insurance Consortium, often referred to as Agro Consortium Uganda, is a group of licensed insurance companies that jointly provide agricultural insurance to farmers. It was established to implement the Uganda Agriculture Insurance Scheme [UAIS], a public, private partnership between the Government of Uganda and the insurance industry.
Western Uganda is the country’s livestock powerhouse, with millions of animals, especially goats and cattle, making up one of the largest livestock concentrations in East Africa.
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