Third-party vs comprehensive insurance in Uganda

Short answerChecked 28 October 2026

IRA Uganda describes three motor covers. Motor third party pays for death and injury to other people. Accident, fire and theft pays for damage to your own vehicle from those causes. Comprehensive combines third-party injury and/or property damage with loss or damage to your own vehicle. Only third party is compulsory.

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Answers come from the law, the regulator and the insurers' own documents, with the source under each answer. General information, not advice.

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On this page · 5 sections

Side by side
What each cover costs
Which one do you need?
FAQ
Sources

Side by side

The definitions come from IRA's consumer FAQ:

	Motor third party	Accident, fire and theft	Comprehensive
Compulsory	Yes	No	No
Death or injury to other people	Yes — within UGX 1 m / 10 m	No	Yes
Damage to other people's property	No	No	Yes (and/or, per policy)
Damage to your own vehicle	No	Yes — accident, fire, theft	Yes

IRA's 2019 minimum-rate guidelines give third party, fire and theft a 30% discount on the motor rate, and price extra third-party limits at 0.5% of the limit above the statutory amount (IRA).

What each cover costs

Cover	How it is priced	Private car example (our calculation)
Motor third party	Fixed premium in the regulations (S.I. 214-1)	UGX 21,910 a year
Third party, fire and theft	Motor rate minus 30%: 2.8% of the value for a private car	UGX 1,120,000 on a car worth UGX 40 million
Comprehensive	At least 4% of the value a year for a private car; excess 10% of each claim, minimum UGX 100,000	UGX 1,600,000 on a car worth UGX 40 million

Sources: the regulations and IRA's minimum rate guidelines. Full price lists: third-party insurance prices and comprehensive car insurance costs.

Which one do you need?

The statutory limits are low (UGX 1 million per person): if you cause a serious accident, you may be personally liable for the rest. Ask for higher third-party limits.
Car on a loan: the lender will usually require comprehensive cover.
Boda boda, taxi or commercial vehicle: ask for a policy that covers commercial use and passengers.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between third party and comprehensive in Uganda?

Third party only covers injury or death you cause to others. Comprehensive also covers damage to other people's property and to your own vehicle (IRA Uganda FAQ).

How much is motor comprehensive insurance in Uganda?

IRA's minimum rate for a private car is 4% of its value a year — UGX 1.6 million for a car worth UGX 40 million (our calculation) — against UGX 21,910 for third party only.