• What is UNN?
  • Why UNN?
  • Our Team
  • Support Us
Monday, February 6, 2023
  • Login
  • Home
  • Featured stories
  • Editors Choice
  • Trending Stories
  • News
  • Africa Today
  • Opinion
  • Literature
  • Videos
  • Sports
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Featured stories
  • Editors Choice
  • Trending Stories
  • News
  • Africa Today
  • Opinion
  • Literature
  • Videos
  • Sports
No Result
View All Result
UNN Times
No Result
View All Result
Home Africa Today

Eminent Signs of Fraud Sighted at NSSF as Workers’ Savings is requisitioned for Government Activities

Moses Kalaire | UNN Times ReporterbyMoses Kalaire | UNN Times Reporter
December 23, 2022
in Africa Today, Editors Choice, Featured stories, News, Trending Stories, Uganda
0
Eminent Signs of Fraud Sighted at NSSF as Workers’ Savings is requisitioned for Government Activities
13
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

RELATED STORIES

Auditor General Faults NSSF on Suspense Accounts

Auditor General Faults NSSF on Suspense Accounts

February 6, 2023
Busoga College Mwiri Seeks Ugx5b for Refurbishment

Busoga College Mwiri Seeks Ugx5b for Refurbishment

February 6, 2023
Speaker Pledges to Support SACCO Laws

Speaker Pledges to Support SACCO Laws

February 6, 2023
Man Kills Wife, Hides Body in Water for Days

Katwe Police Investigating Double Murder involving an Army Officer

February 6, 2023

 KAMPALA – Even after the National Social Security Fund -NSSF’s earnings were badly dented by Covid-19 inspired 20% premature benefits payouts that saw annual interest dip to a single-digit percentage in years, there are fears that workers’ savings could be diverted to pay for activities of government ministries in addition to a trade union organisation.

The National Organisation of Trade Unions – NOTU, the apex organisation of workers’ associations has raised the red-flag over what could be siphoning of the beneficiaries’ money from the Fund.

This comes after information surfaced that the other workers’ group, the Central Organisation of Free Trade Unions – COFTU, requisitioned for Ugx1b from the Fund for its activities.

The activities, according to the request include ‘enhancing awareness and training in financial literacy of Ugandans, enhancing cooperate social responsibility and mobilising and engaging stakeholders,’ amongst others.

As if a worker’s union going after savers’ statutory money for its activities is not alarming enough, the government itself through the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development is said to be requisitioning for Ugx6b for basically similar activities, raising concerned members.

It is not clear why the ministry did not budget for its activities to be financed by the Treasury or Consolidated Fund and instead seek to use workers’ savings from a fund whose profitability has been severely affected in the Covid-19 fallout.

The NOTU Chairman General, Usher Wilson Owere said COFTU Secretary General, Sam Lyomoki is taking advantage of the loophole at NSSF that has enabled the MOGLSD to access the money.

Minister Betty Amongi earlier this year requested the NSSF to avail her Ugx6b through the Fund’s 2022/23 budget to allegedly promote its accountability and mobilisation of savings.

Specifically, the money would be used to; “undertake budget monitoring and oversight of the key activities of the fund, diaspora mobilisation to facilitate their voluntary savings under the fund, media engagements and benchmarking for skills development,” according to the letter.

Owere said that the then Managing Director, Richard Byarugaba declined the request and notified the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. Owere claimed this prompted Amongi to find a way of evicting Byarugaba from office.

He says that he protested to the Minister on grounds that Byarugaba’s contract was due to end in December and that she could not terminate it.

But Minister Amongi has dismissed Owere’s accusations, indicating that he is just an angry man.

The request by Amongi has reportedly been included in the budget after a directive by the Acting Managing Director, Patrick Ayota, who was given a new contract as Deputy Managing Director.

Owere alleges that Amongi also asked workers organisations to write petitions to her alleging corruption against Byarugaba, so as to strengthen the case for his dismissal. Lyomoki’s COFTU was one of those that wrote a petition.

This, according to Owere, shows that Lyomoki has found a way of accessing NSSF Funds because of his support to the Minister’s efforts against Byarugaba.

Lyomoki, who is also a member of the Board of Director of NSSF said they have a Memorandum of Understanding with the Fund to “cooperate and work together to increase social security coverage, improve compliance rates for mandatory contributors and empower members,” among others.

He says the money will be for financial literacy activities, upgrading of COFTU Information Management System, mobilizing and engaging stakeholders and corporate and social responsibility and/or investment.

Owere says that his opposition to these ‘illegal’ activities by the Minister Betty Amongi is the reason NOTU is facing crises.

A section of NOTU members recently held a meeting and voted to replace Owere as Chairman General accusing him of mismanagement and dictatorship, among others. He now says Minister Amongi is behind these controversies.

The Minister, in her response to these allegations, indicated that Owere is no longer the rightful leader of NOTU and therefore had no authority to speak for it.

She admitted meeting with the NOTU leadership section that is opposed to Owere, including one on Wednesday.

“When you say ‘NOTU’, who are you talking about? First establish who the leadership of NOTU are!” she said, adding that she “chaired a meeting with people who have dislodged him from office, the reason he is annoyed.”

Amongi said the money she requested for was for promoting partnerships between critical agencies like parliament, the Private Sector Foundation Uganda, Uganda Manufacturers Association and labour orgnaisations.

She is also yet to effect the ‘guidance’ by the Prime Minister that arose from the cabinet subcommittee meeting in which the president told her to see that Amongi reappoints Bayrugaba.

Owere says Minister Amongi should be investigated by a presidential team over her alleged activities and influencing resource allocation at the NSSF.

The NSSF Amendment Act 2021 made the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development a co-supervisor of the fund, responsible for management and supervision of social security, while the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development is charged with the supervision of the finances and investments.
Additional reporting by URN
Tags: CoftuNational Social Security FundNotuUganda
Previous Post

Sharp Contradictions Emerge Between Education Ministry and Church Leadership Over Choice Of Head-Teacher at SMACK

Next Post

Omusinga’s Royal Guards Released from Jail Hours after Museveni’s Promise

Related Posts

Auditor General Faults NSSF on Suspense Accounts

byRonald Mugabi | UNN Times Reporter
February 6, 2023
0
Auditor General Faults NSSF on Suspense Accounts

KAMPALA – The Director Audit - Auditor General’s Office, Joseph Kirya has told the Select Committee investigating allegations of mismanagement...

Read more

When Vice President Jessica Alupo met Pope Francis in Juba

bySophie Mutesi | UNN Times Reporter
February 6, 2023
0
When Vice President Jessica Alupo met Pope Francis in Juba

JUBA – South Sudanese President, Salva Kiir has expressed gratitude towards his Ugandan counterpart, Yoweri Museveni describing him as ‘an...

Read more

When Minister Amongi Blocked Ugx400b in NSSF’s Sham Land Deal

byMoses Kalaire | UNN Times Reporter
February 4, 2023
0
When Minister Amongi Blocked Ugx400b in NSSF’s Sham Land Deal

KAMPALA –Gender, Labour and Social Development Minister, Betty Amongi blocked a bogus deal in which National Social Security Fund –...

Read more

Regional Leaders Applaud Ruto for Easing Trade Restrictions between Kenya and Uganda

byRonald Mugabi | UNN Times Reporter
February 4, 2023
0
Regional Leaders Applaud Ruto for Easing Trade Restrictions between Kenya and Uganda

KAMPALA – East African Community leaders and the business community are excited after the Kenyan President. Dr William Ruto moved...

Read more

Kasaija disowns Amongi in Ugx6b NSSF Requisition

byMoses Kalaire | UNN Times Reporter
February 4, 2023
0
Kasaija disowns Amongi in Ugx6b NSSF Requisition

KAMPALA – The Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Matia Kasaija has said that Ugx6b, which the Gender, Labour...

Read more

How Sam Lyomoki Received Ugx1b from NSSF

byRonald Mugabi | UNN Times Reporter
February 2, 2023
0
How Sam Lyomoki Received Ugx1b from NSSF

KAMPALA - The Select Committee investigating the affairs of the National Social Security Fund –NSSF has questioned the board about...

Read more
Next Post
Omusinga’s Royal Guards Released from Jail Hours after Museveni’s Promise

Omusinga’s Royal Guards Released from Jail Hours after Museveni’s Promise

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

About us

UNN is a new people powered TV channel, Radio station and Newspaper leading the revolution. We’re a media outlet focused on inspiring and empowering you while telling the truth, because as they say, the truth will set you free.

Recent

Auditor General Faults NSSF on Suspense Accounts

Busoga College Mwiri Seeks Ugx5b for Refurbishment

Speaker Pledges to Support SACCO Laws

Katwe Police Investigating Double Murder involving an Army Officer

Renowned Jinja based Musician Arrested for Abduction, Defilement

When Eddy Kenzo Fired Blanks at Grammy Awards

Follow Us

Tweets by GetUNN

Facebook

© 2023 UNN Times

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Featured stories
  • Editors Choice
  • Trending Stories
  • News
  • Africa Today
  • Opinion
  • Literature
  • Videos
  • Sports

© 2023

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.