According to the terms of reference, the committee is expected to examine corporate governance structures at NSSF, examine circumstances surrounding the appointment of the Managing Director, evaluate the status and safety of savers' money, examine the extent of stakeholder engagement in decision making and inquire into any other matters incidental thereto.
The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among has named a
seven-member select committee chaired by Mbarara South member of parliament, Mwine Mpaka to investigate the affairs of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).
The other committee members are Mbale City Industrial Division MP,
Karim Masaba, Entebbe Municipality MP, Micheal Kakembo, Kyotera Woman MP, Fortunate Nantongo, Workers MP, Charles Bakkambuli, Rwampara County MP, Amos Kankunda and Laura Kanushu, the National
Woman representative for People with Disabilities.
According to the terms of reference, the committee is expected to
examine corporate governance structures at NSSF, examine circumstances
surrounding the appointment of the Managing Director, evaluate the status
and safety of savers' money, examine the extent of stakeholder engagement in
decision making and inquire into any other matters incidental thereto.
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa presented the names of the Select committee members during plenary Wednesday afternoon.
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Last week, parliament resolved to name a select committee to investigate the affairs of NSSF following a statement by the Minister of Gender, Labour, and Social
Development, Betty Amongi on the emerging issues at the fund.
The speaker directed the minister to present the statement amidst corruption allegations
at the Fund stemming from her letter questioning the
reappointment of the former Managing Director, Richard Byarugaba when
his contract expired at the end of November 2022.
The NSSF Board led by Dr. Peter Kimbowa endorsed Byarugaba’s reappointment for another five-year term. As a
result, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja asked Amongi to proceed with the
appointment “as recommended by the Board to avoid any managerial gaps, which
can put the workers’ funds at risk”.
Amongi protested the move and instead called for an investigation into the conduct of the former MD while at the fund. She accused him of among others abuse of
office and mismanagement of investments. She directed that investigations be
conducted within two months in line with a resolution by the Board of
directors.
In her statement to Parliament, Amongi said that
members’ funds are safe and invested in fixed assets, equities, and real
estate. She said that although President Yoweri Museveni
and the NSSF Board had recommended the re-appointment of Byarugaba and his
Deputy Patrick Ayota, a number of petitions had been presented to several
authorities including the President, Prime Minister, the Coordinator of
Operations Wealth Creation (OWC), the Inspector General of Government (IGG) and
herself.
Amongi said that the petitions resulted in
several stakeholder meetings including that she refers to in a letter dated 7th
December 2022 addressed to the NSSF Board Chairperson, which prompted the board
to refer issues raised to IGG for investigations.
The Minister said
that investigations that required a forensic audit were referred to the Auditor
General and those bordering on impropriety, abuse of office, or corruption were
referred to the Inspectorate of Government, with a request that their findings
be shared within 60 days. Asked about the NSSF
investigations, Olive Beti Kamya, the Inspector General
of Government (IGG) said they are yet to conclude inquiries into the
matter.
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Amongi also explained to
parliament why she together with the NSSF Board met the Coordinator of
Operations Wealth Creation (OWC) Gen. Salim Saleh regarding the operations of
the Fund.
“Suffice to clarify that the meeting I
refer to, of the Board’s visit to meet Gen. Salim Saleh in Kapeeka on 6th
December 2022 had the intention of establishing how a private industrial park
with a big number of workers can inform strategies for the Fund to enroll these
as members and contributors of NSSF as well as other strategic issues in line
with the mandate of the Fund,” the Minister explained.