m-Omulimisa

Mobile agricultural insurance platform for smallholder farmers in Uganda

Specialty Solutions Startup Seed

Overview

m-Omulimisa is an agricultural technology and insurance distribution platform serving smallholder farmers in Uganda. The platform enables farmers to purchase and manage crop and livestock insurance policies through USSD (dialing 217101#), a mobile app, and a web portal -- channels that serve farmers with and without smartphones. The company partners with the Agriculture Insurance Consortium (AIC) to distribute insurance under the Uganda Agricultural Insurance Scheme (UAIS), which provides government-subsidized coverage.

The platform uses satellite-based parametric insurance technology for drought index coverage, removing the need for traditional on-site loss assessments. Insurance premiums and claims payouts are handled through mobile money, making transactions accessible to rural farmers. Products cover a broad range of crops including coffee, tea, maize, rice, and beans, as well as livestock including dairy and beef cattle.

m-Omulimisa was founded in 2014 and received early-stage funding through awards from the UC Berkeley Big Ideas Challenge (Food Systems category) and a grant from Texas A&M University. The company operates across Uganda with a focus on expanding agricultural financial services access for subsistence and semi-commercial farming households.

Products & Services

Mobile-Based Agricultural Insurance

Crop and livestock insurance distributed via USSD and mobile app in partnership with the Agriculture Insurance Consortium (AIC). Coverage is subsidized up to 50% under the Uganda Agricultural Insurance Scheme (UAIS). Parametric drought index technology is used for crop insurance, triggering payouts based on satellite-measured rainfall rather than field inspections.

Key Features

USSD access (217101#) for feature phone users with no internet required
Satellite-based drought index triggers automatic payouts
Mobile money payments and claims disbursement
Coverage for 12+ crop types and dairy/beef cattle

Target Users: Smallholder farmers in Uganda

mAgrosure Mobile App

An Android app (available on Google Play) for accessing insurance products, calculating premiums offline, purchasing drought insurance, and tracking claims.

Key Features

Offline insurance premium calculator
In-app drought insurance purchase
Claims status tracking
No extensive paperwork required

Target Users: Smallholder farmers with Android devices

Mobile Extension Services

Agronomic advice, training content, and best practice guidance delivered to farmers through USSD and the mobile app.

Key Features

Agronomic recommendations by crop type
Seasonal farming guidance
Accessible on both USSD and smartphone channels

Target Users: Smallholder farmers

Agricultural Market Information & Weather

Real-time weather updates and market price information delivered through the platform to support farmer decision-making.

Key Features

Weather forecast data
Agricultural commodity pricing
Available via USSD and app

Target Users: Smallholder farmers

Agricultural Loans & Inputs Marketplace

Loan products tailored for smallholder farmers and a marketplace for purchasing agricultural inputs and connecting buyers and sellers of agricultural products.

Key Features

Smallholder-focused loan products
Agricultural inputs procurement
Peer-to-peer marketplace for farm products

Target Users: Smallholder farmers

At a Glance

Founded: 2014
Headquarters: Kampala, Uganda
Employees: 11-50
Funding: Seed

Category & Focus

Category: Specialty Solutions
Subcategories: Parametric Insurance Agricultural Insurance Insurance Distribution
Insurance Verticals: Specialty/E&S
Target Customers: Consumers

Customers

Agriculture Insurance Consortium (AIC) -- underwriting and subsidy distribution under UAIS
Mutual Insurance Uganda Association (MUA) -- agricultural insurance products