IBAU SUCCESSFULLY HOSTS CAREER GUIDANCE SYMPOSIUM AT MAKERERE UNIVERSITY
On 10th September 2026, the Insurance Brokers Association of Uganda (IBAU), in collaboration with the Makerere Actuarial Society, organized a Career Guidance Program at Makerere University, bringing together industry practitioners and students for an engaging conversation on career development, emerging opportunities and the skills required to thrive in the evolving insurance industry.
Held under the theme “Bridging Academia & Industry: Preparing the Next Generation of Insurance Professionals,” the program gave students an opportunity to gain practical insights from industry practitioners, understand the transition from university into the workplace and explore diverse career opportunities within the insurance sector.
Understanding the Role of Insurance Brokers
In his remarks, IBAU CEO Christopher Bakesiga shed light on the different insurance intermediaries, with particular focus on insurance brokers and the value they bring to clients and the wider insurance industry.
He highlighted how brokers help clients understand their risks, navigate insurance options and make informed decisions about the protection they need, while serving as an important link between clients and insurance companies.
Creating Pathways for Young Talent
Speaking at the program, IBAU Publicity Director Christopher Ssengendo highlighted that the initiative is about opening doors for young talent, helping students understand the wider opportunities within insurance and giving them access to industry knowledge, professional networks and potential career opportunities.
He challenged students to look beyond the traditional career paths associated with their degrees, build their professional profiles and consider what sets them apart in an increasingly competitive job market.
He posed a question for students to reflect on: “What makes you unique?”
As part of the initiative, IBAU plans to create a database of students’ professional CVs to help connect them with internship and career opportunities within the insurance industry.
Embracing Change and Recognizing Opportunities
Also speaking during the session, Julius Katimbo, CEO of Turaco and a member of the IBAU PR Committee, emphasized that academic qualifications alone are not enough to distinguish a professional. Integrity, empathy, trustworthiness, adaptability and a willingness to learn are qualities that can set young professionals apart.
Julius encouraged students to consider insurance as a viable career path. With Uganda’s insurance penetration still below 12%, he noted that there remains significant room for young professionals to contribute, innovate and grow within the sector.
His message was simple: “Don’t just compete for opportunities, prepare yourself to create and recognize them.”
Preparing for the Realities of the Workplace
The keynote address was delivered by Ronald Batanda,CEO of Sky Reinsurance Brokers who challenged students to look beyond academic qualifications and deliberately prepare for the realities of professional life.
Drawing from his own career journey, Batanda emphasized that a university degree is only the foundation of a career. He encouraged students to take ownership of their professional growth, remain open to opportunities and develop practical workplace skills, particularly in communication, presentation, research and digital tools such as Excel and PowerPoint.
He also encouraged students to embrace continuous learning and pursue professional certifications alongside their university education. On postgraduate studies, he shared his personal view that gaining work experience before pursuing a Master’s degree can help students connect advanced academic learning with practical workplace challenges.
Integrity, Mentorship and Professional Growth
Batanda placed strong emphasis on integrity and professional character, urging students to protect their reputation from the beginning of their careers. In a highly regulated industry such as insurance, he noted, technical competence must be accompanied by ethical conduct and trust.
He also encouraged students to seek mentors who can provide perspective and guidance as they navigate career setbacks, delayed opportunities and the transition into professional life.
Identifying Opportunities Within Insurance
Batanda challenged students to broaden their understanding of careers within insurance, highlighting areas such as loss assessment, risk surveying, engineering, data analytics, fintech and digital insurance solutions.
He particularly pointed to gaps in specialised loss assessment expertise within Uganda and the wider East African region, noting the opportunity for young professionals to develop expertise in areas where skills are sometimes sourced from outside the region.
He encouraged students to look at industry gaps and ask themselves how they can develop the skills needed to fill them.
Batanda further challenged students to approach the workplace with an innovation mindset. Rather than entering an organisation focused only on what the employer can offer, he encouraged graduates to ask: “What am I bringing to this organisation?”
He stressed that identifying problems is not enough. Professionals must develop practical solutions and, most importantly, execute them.
Staying Relevant in a Digital and AI-Driven Industry
Batanda also urged students to prepare for the changing nature of work as digitalization and artificial intelligence transform professional services.
Rather than viewing AI solely as a threat to employment, he encouraged students to use it to complement their capabilities, improve productivity and remain relevant.
He challenged them to continually ask whether aspects of their work could be performed by technology and, where possible, develop skills that add value beyond what technology can easily replicate.
For IBAU, the engagement is part of a broader effort to strengthen the connection between academia and industry, create pathways for young talent and give students greater access to the knowledge, networks and opportunities needed to build meaningful careers in insurance.
Ultimately, the call to the next generation is clear: Do not just look for opportunities. Prepare yourself to create value, solve problems, recognise opportunities and become the professional the industry needs.
