Photo: Isaiah Maghanga, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0Health insurance in Uganda: private cover while the national scheme waits
Where the national scheme stands
Parliament passed a National Health Insurance Scheme bill in 2021, but it was not assented to. In June 2025 an IRA director told the Daily Monitor that a revised version was held at Cabinet level and that an Act could come after the 2026 elections. IRA's 2024 market report still presents the scheme as proposed.
Private cover: insurers and HMOs
Medical cover is sold by general insurers and by health membership organisations, which must hold at least UGX 1 billion of capital. The authorised HMO for 2026 is CASE Med Insurance (IRA). Compare:
- Inpatient and outpatient limits per person and per family.
- Waiting periods, maternity cover, chronic and pre-existing conditions.
- The provider network: which hospitals and clinics accept the card.
- Co-payments and what happens at renewal.
Remember the 0.5% training levy on each premium.
What would you like to do now?
Frequently asked questions
Is there national health insurance in Uganda?
Not yet. The National Health Insurance Scheme bill was passed in 2021 but not signed; IRA still describes the scheme as proposed.
What is an HMO in Uganda?
A health membership organisation: a provider of prepaid health cover, licensed and supervised by IRA.