Diversity, equity, and inclusivity in life insurance uptake: A systematic review of global evidence with insights from Uganda
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Date
2026-06-08
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Insurance Training College
Abstract
ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION
Life insurance plays a vital role in enhancing financial protection and household resilience, yet its uptake in Uganda remains persistently low despite growing awareness. Previous studies have explored determinants of participation, but few have synthesized this evidence systematically through the lens of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity (DEI). This study addressed this gap by reviewing empirical literature and reports of institutions such as Financial Sector Deepening Uganda on life-insurance uptake in Uganda and benchmarking it against global literature to understand how social, economic, and institutional factors shape participation.
METHODS
The study employed a systematic review design guided by PRISMA procedures. Twenty-three relevant sources including peer-reviewed journal articles, dissertations, and institutional reports published in different social science databases including ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, Taylor & Francis Online, Sage Journals, Academia.edu, and institutional repositories and searched through different search engines like Google Scholar, multidisciplinary portals like JSTOR, citation trackers like Scopus/Web of Science, and open-access aggregators like CORE/BASE, ResearchGate, J-Gate and Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ). Inclusion criteria targeted studies examining life-insurance uptake in Uganda and comparable international contexts, emphasizing demographic and socio-economic determinants. Data were extracted and thematically analyzed along the DEI dimensions, focusing on education, income, gender, age, geography, marital status, and policy tenure. The review was theoretically anchored in Rational Choice Theory, the Capability Approach, and Institutional Theory, which together explain the behavioral, structural, and institutional dimensions of participation.
RESULTS
The findings revealed notable diversity in life-insurance uptake across demographic and socio-economic groups; however, this diversity was skewed toward the educated, higher-income earners, salaried professionals, married individuals, and urban residents. Uptake was dominant among younger and middle-aged adults and low among low-income and rural populations. Equity in access was constrained by affordability challenges, educational disparities, and urban concentration of insurers; factors that disadvantaged low-income households, the less educated, and rural residents. Inclusivity emerged as the weakest dimension, with older adults, informalsector workers, persons with disabilities, singles, and divorced individuals systematically excluded from meaningful participation. Comparative international evidence confirmed that these inequities reflect broader regional and global patterns observed in Kenya, India, Nigeria, and China.
CONCLUSION:
The review concludes that Uganda’s life-insurance landscape exhibits diversity without representativeness, equity without fairness, and inclusivity without reach. Participation remains concentrated among privileged groups, while affordability, geography, and institutional inertia limit access for vulnerable populations. Achieving genuine DEI requires deliberate reforms that promote financial literacy, digital and rural outreach, and inclusive product design. Policymakers should embed DEI benchmarks in regulatory frameworks, insurers should develop flexible and affordable micro-insurance products, and development partners should invest in awareness and digital innovation. Future research should examine longitudinal patterns of policy retention, experiences of marginalized groups, and the impact of digital and policy innovations on expanding inclusivity.
Description
This study reviews evidence on life insurance uptake in Uganda using a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity (DEI) perspective, drawing on 23 selected academic and institutional sources guided by PRISMA procedures. Grounded in Rational Choice Theory, the Capability Approach, and Institutional Theory, it brings together findings from Uganda and similar international settings to understand what drives or limits participation. The review shows that life insurance uptake is mainly concentrated among urban residents, higher-income earners, the educated, salaried workers, married individuals, and younger to middle-aged adults, while rural communities, low-income households, informal workers, older adults, and other vulnerable groups are largely left out. These gaps are largely shaped by affordability challenges, low financial literacy, and unequal access to insurance services. Overall, the study highlights that while participation exists, it is not inclusive, and it calls for more affordable products, stronger financial education, and improved rural and digital outreach to broaden access.
Keywords
Life Insurance Uptake, Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity, Uganda, Systematic Review
Citation
Tumwesiga, P. & Mujuni, B. (2026) Diversity, equity, and inclusivity in life insurance uptake: A systematic review of global evidence with insights from Uganda. ITC Research Repository.