By Sadique Bamwita
KAMPALA
The management of M-Kopa Uganda, has partnered with Turaco Microinsurance Company to offer health insurance cover to their customers particularly the low income earners in a campaign dubbed as “More than a phone.”
Speaking to the press on August 21, 2025, the General Manager M-Kopa Uganda, Ms. Brenda Nambalirwa, said offering hospital health insurance cover to Customers enables them access medical treatment in the event of an accident or sickness.
Ms. Nambalirwa explained that the health insurance cover targets the underserved communities adding that they are trying to do away with the narrative that insurance is for rich people.
Nambalirwa revealed that more than 70% of their customers have received health insurance cover.
“A month ago, I was in Kenya and I interacted with a boda rider who used a M-Kopa Smart phone and used our insurance cover to settle his medical bills on top of providing for his family,” Ms. Nambalirwa revealed a success story for one of the beneficiaries.
Ms. Nambalirwa noted that the world has gone digital adding that with M-Kopa Smart phones, they are targeting all Ugandans who are not digitally included.
“The insurance product will help M-Kopa customers continue with life even when they are sick. So, this product comes timely to address customers’ needs.
She also revealed that in case a customer who obtains an M-Kopa Smart phone on loan and unfortunately gets damaged, such a customer pays little money to repair his or her phone.
The Head of partnership at Turaco Micro insurance Company, Mr. Romeo Juuko, noted that traditional insurers tend to focus on middle class and high income earners but with M- Kopa insurance product the low income earners are catered for.
‘Besides getting M-Kopa device, the customer is assured of getting insurance solutions. In this case, a customer sends us a receipt and within 24 hours, the customer receives the money on his/her smart phone,” Mr. Juuko explained.’
Mr. Juuko noted that all M-Kopa customers who pay 80% of their loans on M-Kopa Smart phones are eligible for the insurance cover adding that such a customer gets financial protection and his or her family won’t lack food at home in the event the customer is hospitalized for days or weeks.
