ICEA LION Urges Stronger Employee Protection as Insurer Backs HR Conference with UGX15m

November 10, 2026 in Companies by Editor

From L-R, Emmanuel Mwaka CEO ICEA LION Life Assurance, Concepta Nambejja Vice President HRMAU, Ambrose Kibuuka CEO ICEA LION General Insurance and Remigious Kaggwa Director Professional Devt HRMAU

ICEA LION Insurance Uganda has committed UGX15 million to HRMAU’s annual conference, calling for stronger employee protection and greater recognition of HR as a strategic business function.

ICEA LION Insurance Uganda has committed UGX15 million towards the third Annual Human Resource Conference, using the platform to call for stronger employee protection as changing labour laws, workplace risks and evolving employment arrangements reshape employer obligations.

The two-day conference, organised by the Human Resource Managers Association of Uganda (HRMAU), takes place on November 11 and 12 at Serena Hotel in Kampala under the theme, “Law, Labour and the Future: A Policy Conversation on the Changing Workplace.”

ICEA LION is participating as a Gold Sponsor, with the UGX15 million contribution announced during a cheque handover at its head office at Rwenzori Courts on November 9.

The insurer’s participation comes amid growing scrutiny of how employers balance commercial objectives with their obligations to safeguard employee rights, wellbeing and financial security.

Ambrose Kibuuka, Chief Executive Officer of ICEA LION General Insurance, will participate in a CEO roundtable on November 11 examining whether purpose and profitability can coexist.

He argues that sustainable business performance depends on recognising employees as central to organisational success and positioning human resource management as a strategic function rather than an administrative department.

“Purpose and profitability should not be treated as competing priorities. A business cannot achieve sustainable growth by overlooking the people who deliver its results. Caring for employees must go hand in hand with sound business decisions, responsible leadership and a clear understanding of organisational performance,” he says.

Kibuuka says HR professionals have an increasingly important role in workforce planning, talent development, workplace risk management and building organisational cultures that support business performance.

Emmanuel Mwaka, Chief Executive Officer of ICEA LION Life Assurance, will participate in a fireside discussion on November 12 focusing on the implications of employment laws, data protection and changing work arrangements.

Mwaka says the Employment (Amendment) Act, 2026 reinforces the need for employers to treat employee protection as a legal obligation rather than a discretionary benefit.

“The Employment (Amendment) Act, 2026 is an important reminder that certain protections must not be treated as privileges that an employer may choose to extend or withdraw. They are rights and obligations that must be respected,” he says.

He argues that employee welfare should also extend beyond statutory workplace protections to include financial security against risks such as death, disability, critical illness and retirement.

Appropriate life assurance and other protection arrangements, he says, can help protect employees and their families against financial disruption, complementing rather than replacing statutory employment rights.

The conference also comes as businesses contend with technological change and shifting workforce expectations, increasing pressure on employers to attract and retain skilled employees.

Concepta Nambejja, Vice President of HRMAU, says human resource management is particularly important in the insurance industry, where technical expertise, integrity and customer relationships influence service delivery.

“Insurance is fundamentally a people-driven business. Behind every policy, claim and customer interaction are professionals whose knowledge, integrity and commitment determine the quality of service delivered,” she says.

She adds that investment in professional skills and adaptable teams will be critical as the industry adopts new technologies and responds to changing customer expectations.

The annual conference builds on two previous editions that examined employee experience, leadership, workforce transformation and the strategic contribution of human resource management to organisational growth.

The 2024 inaugural edition focused on employee experience and productivity, while the 2025 conference examined the role of HR in leading change, unlocking potential and sustaining growth.

This year’s discussions shift greater attention to the policy and regulatory environment governing employment, including the responsibilities of employers and the changing role of HR professionals.