National Social Security Fund (Uganda)

The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) is a quasi-government agency responsible for the collection, safekeeping, responsible investment, and distribution of retirement funds from employees of the private sector in Uganda who are not covered by the Government Retirement Scheme. Participation for both employers and employees is compulsory. The Uganda National Social Security Fund is the largest pension fund in the countries of the East African Community, with assets of USh11.5 trillion (approx. US$3.115 billion), as of November 2019.[2]

National Social Security Fund
Quasi-government
IndustrySocial Security
Founded1985 (1985)
Headquarters14th Floor Workers House
1 Pilkington Road
Kampala, Uganda
Key people
Patrick Byabakama Kaberenge
Chairman
Richard Byarugaba
Managing Director
Patrick Ayota
Deputy Managing Director
ProductsInvestments
Revenue Pretax:Sh2.468 trillion (US$568.3 million) (2019)[1]
Total assetsUGX:11.3 trillion (US$3.05 billion) (June 2019)[1]
WebsiteHomepage

History

In February 2009, the President of Uganda fired the minister of finance, whose ministry supervises the activities of NSSF. Also terminated were the managing director of the NSSF and his deputy.[3] A new board of directors and a new management team were appointed in 2009.[4]

In late 2010, NSSF underwent a restructuring process aimed at making it more efficient, competitive, and responsive to the needs of its members. It was then poised to provide a wide range of social security products and be the lead institution for domestic capital formation and deepening the financial sector.[5] Analysts in the country said in 2013 that the NSSF had become a leading player in the country's economy.[6]

Investment portfolio

In July 2018, the fund's investments included (a) fixed income investments, accounting for 77 percent of all investments (b) equities on the security exchanges of the East African countries, accounting for 17 percent and (c) real estate investments, which are 6 percent of the total portfolio.[7]

Significant real estate holdings include Workers' House in the centre of Kampala, Uganda's capital city, where NSSF maintains its head office, and City House Jinja, in Jinja, developed between 2015 and 2018, at a cost of USh3.5 billion (approx. US$1 million).[8]

According to its financial statements for the year ending 30 June 2014, NSSF had UGX:2.65 trillion in government treasury bonds (with yields ranging from 10.25 to 14.35 percent), UGX:682.1 billion on deposit with commercial banks, UGX:251.3 billion in equity investments at fair value through profit or loss (EPL), UGX:250.2 billion in capital work-in-progress, UGX:193.7 billion in investment properties, UGX:143.2 billion in corporate bonds (with yields ranging from 11.03 to 17.00 percent), UGX:73.3 billion in equity securities held-for-trading by fund managers (HFT), and UGX:14.6 billion in cash and bank balances.[9]:15 Based on market value as of 30 June 2014, NSSF's largest investments in equity securities were as follows:[9]:41–42, 44

Operations and economic performance

The NSSF is a defined contribution scheme and is financed largely by contributions from employers and employees. The total contribution is equal to 15 percent of an employee's gross salary, with the employer contributing 10 percent and the employee 5 percent.[9]:18 The NSSF pays five types of benefits:[9]:18

  • Age benefit - paid to a member who has reached the retirement age of 55
  • Withdrawal benefit: Paid to a member who has reached the age of 50 and is out of regular employment for one year
  • Invalidity benefit: Paid to a member who has become incapable of gainful employment
  • Survivor's benefit: Paid to the dependent survivor of a member
  • Emigration grant: Paid to a member who is leaving Uganda permanently.

The NSSF's total assets as of 30 June 2014, were valued at UGX:4.4 trillion.[9]:15 In October 2017, The Independent, a Ugandan English language newspaper, estimated the NSSF total assets at USh7.9 trillion (approximately US$2.48 billion at that time), as of 30 June 2017.[10] By June 2018, those assets had increased to USh9.98 trillion ($2.678 billion).[1]

Pension Towers
Main article: Pension Towers

Beginning in the early 2000s, NSSFU has been developing an office complex known as Pension Towers, along Lumumba Avenue, on Nakasero Hill, one of the most prestigious neighborhoods in Kampala, Uganda's capital city. The complex consists of three interconnected towers; one central tower of twenty-five stories in height, flanked on either side by a ten-story tower. Roko Construction Company, a Ugandan construction company constructed the four basement floors between 2008 and 2012, but failed to qualify for further works on the project. Three Chinese firms are in a final bidding process to complete the construction, between 2012 and 2015. Construction costs for the complex are estimated at UGX:260 billion.[11] When finished, the three towers will contain in excess of 59,410 square metres (639,500 sq ft) in office space. Parking for over 500 vehicles will be provided in the development.[12]

City House Jinja
Main article: City House Jinja

Jinja City House is owned by the Uganda National Social Security Fund (NSSF), who developed the building, between 2015 and 2018. The building houses the NSSF offices in Jinja and the remaining space is rented out to qualified businesses and corporations. The mixed use building consists of 1,500 square metres (16,146 sq ft) on four floors, of which 1,200 square metres (12,917 sq ft) are rentable. NSSF will occupy the remaining 300 square metres (3,229 sq ft).[13]

NSSF Mbarara Complex
Main article: NSSF Mbarara Complex

Mbarara City House, is the second NSSF real estate investment outside the capital city of Kampala. It was developed at a cost of USh3.9 billion (approximately US$1.2 million), between 2017 and 2019.[14]

Governance

Board of directors

Ugandan Minister of Finance Matia Kasaija appointed a new board of directors in December 2018, composed of the following members:[15]

  1. Patrick Byabakama Kaberenge: Chairman
  2. Pius Bigirimaana
  3. Florence Mawejje
  4. Patrick Ocailap
  5. Fred Bamwesigye
  6. Richard Byarugaba: Managing Director and CEO.
  7. Peninnah Tukamwesiga
  8. Isaac Magoola
  9. Peter Christopher Werikhe: Representing National Organization of Trade Unions (NOTU)[16]
  10. Stephen Mugole: Representing NOTU[16]

Management

The management of the NSSF consisted of the following individuals as of February 2018:[17]

  • Richard Byarugaba - Managing Director[18]
  • Patrick Ayota - Deputy Managing Director
  • Agnes Tibayeyita Isharaza - Corporation Secretary (Effective 1 April 2019)[19]
  • Edward Ssenyonjo - Head of Risk
  • Stevens Mwanje - Chief Finance Officer
  • Barbara Teddy Arimi - Head of Marketing & Communications
  • Milton Owor - Head of Human Resources & Administration
  • Gerald Paul Kasaato - Head of Investments
  • Barigye Geoffrey - Head of Internal Audit
  • Geoffrey Ssajjabi - Head of Business
  • Elijah Kitaka - Head of Information Technology
  • Jean Mutabazi - Head of Operations.

Branch network

As of June 2019, NSSF had a branch network of 19 branches in the central, eastern, northern, and western parts of Uganda, with six in Kampala, the capital.[20]

  1. Head Office: Workers House, One Pilkington Road, Kampala
  2. Bugoloobi Branch: Bugoloobi
  3. Kireka Branch: Kireka
  4. Entebbe Branch: Entebbe
  5. Kawempe Branch: Kawempe
  6. Bakuli Branch: Bakuli
  7. Arua Branch: Arua
  8. Gulu Branch: Gulu
  9. Lira Branch: Lira
  10. Soroti Branch: Soroti
  11. Mbale Branch: Mbale
  12. Jinja Branch: City House Jinja, Jinja[13]
  13. Lugazi Branch: Lugazi
  14. Masaka Branch: Masaka
  15. Masindi Branch: Masindi
  16. Hoima Branch: Hoima
  17. Fort Portal Branch: Fort Portal
  18. Mbarara Branch: NSSF Mbarara Complex, Mbarara[14]
  19. Kabale Branch: Kabale

See also

References
  1. Bernard Busuulwa (22 September 2019). "Low Returns From Bonds Affect Uganda's NSSF". The EastAfrican. Nairobi. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  2. Eronie Kamukama (16 December 2019). "NSSF Beats Target With Shs11.5 Trillion". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  3. Press TV Ireland (17 February 2009). "Uganda First Lady named cabinet minister". PressTv.com. Archived from the original (Archived from the Original) on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  4. Martin Ssebuyira, and Al-Mahdi Ssenkabirwa (14 May 2012). "Workers give government 14 days to name new NSSF board". Daily Monitor Mobile. Kampala. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  5. Busuulwa, Bernard (3 April 2009). "NSSF turns to fund managers". The EastAfrican. Nairobi. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  6. Kidimu, Gilbert (12 September 2013). "Workers to Benefit From Pension Reforms". New Vision. Kampala. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  7. Kyatusiimire, Sharon (28 June 2018). "NSSF Launches Shs3.5 Billion Building In Jinja". Kampala: Chimp Reports Uganda. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  8. Staff Writer (2 July 2018). "Kadaga Opens NSSF'S Jinja Office Complex". Red Pepper. Mukono. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  9. Uganda Auditor General (29 October 2014). "Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30th June, 2014, Together with the Report and Opinion Thereon of the Auditor General" (PDF). Kampala: Uganda Office of the Auditor General. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  10. Businge, Julius (9 October 2017). "NSSF sees higher returns for savers in FY 2017/18". The Independent (Uganda). Kampala. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  11. Mugabe, David (23 May 2012). "NSSF constructs Uganda's tallest tower". New Vision. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  12. NSSFU (2011). "Pension Towers to reduce office space shortage in Kampala". NSSF Uganda (NSSFU). Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  13. Staff Writer (2 July 2018). "Kadaga Opens NSSF'S Jinja Office Complex". Red Pepper. Mukono. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  14. Christine Kasemiire (28 June 2019). "NSSF Diversifying Into Real Estate, Says Byarugaba". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  15. Kamukama, Eronie (5 December 2018). "New NSSF board outlines plans". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  16. Wesaka, Anthony (8 April 2019). "Government completes NSSF board appointments". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  17. NSSF (10 February 2018). "NSSF Management". Kampala: Uganda National Social Security Fund (NSSF). Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  18. Vision, Reporter (29 October 2014). "Byarugaba bounces back as NSSF boss". New Vision (Kampala). Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  19. Nakaweesi, Dorothy (14 March 2019). "Kasaija appoints new NSSF head of legal services". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  20. NSSF (December 2018). "Branch Directory". National Social Security Fund of Uganda (NSSF). Retrieved 10 December 2018.
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