Is NSSF Uganda’s worst job?
Workers House, the headquarter of NSSF. The top seat at the Fund is usually hot. PHOTO/FILE/RACHAEL MABALA
The end is rarely a good one. This is what has become like working at the top of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF). Compared to other government agencies that enjoy stability at the top, being a top dog at NSSF is a tough calling.
As Mr Richard Byarugaba, the outgoing MD seeks re-appointment on competitive basis with two others, it could be another story had he been chief at other government agencies like Bank of Uganda and Uganda Revenue Authority.
Mr Emmanuel Tumusiime, the current governor of Bank of Uganda was appointed on January 11, 2001. Thirteen years down the road he is still serving in the same capacity, while Ms Allen Kagina the commissioner general has been boss at Uganda Revenue Authority since 2004.
Trouble at NSSF started in 1998. Abel Katembwa, then Managing Director of the Fund was fired. In between, other managers of the Shs3 trillion worth fund have courted similar controversy. Yesteryear, it was Chandi Jamwa, today, it is Mr Richard Byarugaba, who while ago the Inspectorate General of Government (IGG) report pinned for turning a deaf ear to professional advice in the sale of a plot of land. People familiar with the workings of the Fund and scholars talked to said the problem is not Fund.
Mr Byarugaba says there is nothing wrong with serving at the helm of NSSF but adds that the problem is the impression created by the press. “The fund is run in the public’s eyes. Every happening is hyped and conveyed to the public by the press,” he explains in a calm tone.
“Investigations or audit queries are done in all other organisations - like Uganda Revenue Authority - and results are reached showing faults by managers. But the results in these other organisation are not carried in newspapers like is the case with NSSF.”
So when people read news articles about NSSF they think there is a lot of “dirt” and the “dirt” only takes place at NSSF, he says. “This is not true. So anyone can successfully work there as an MD. It is an okay employer,” Mr Byarugaba states.
However, IGG Irene Mulyagonja, disagrees. She says the problem is the lack of a good moral compass by some of the managers.
She says managers should continuously behave like the money in their control is not their own and acknowledge that they are merely stewards.
“If you do not have such a moral compass, you stray. Otherwise, how do you explain that an accountant like Chandi Jamwa who is aware of how credit cards are keenly monitored could abuse the card given to him by NSSF in a casino?
“How do you explain that Byarugaba could ignore the Board’s recommendation and hurriedly sell off the land in Bakuli in which he is alleged to have caused a loss of Shs100 million?”
Ms Mulyagonja further explains that when an individual is managing an organisation with sums of money as massive as NSSF’s, the small components of the colossal sum come off as negligible. An individual starts treating amounts like a billion shillings as petty cash. Mr David Nambale could afford to accrue a telephone bill of Shs1.5 million talking to his spouse because of that, she says. That clarifies the reckless losses worth billions of shillings that have been made by management. “This makes the managers feel they can get away with the losses. Trust me it starts small and before you know it they are abusing billions,” she remarks.
In the public eye, it is the influential politicians to give NSSF a break. People believe that politicians cajole the management into taking career detrimental decisions like was the case of former MD Chandi Jamwa who alleged that he acted under pressure to buy the Temangalo land at an inflated price.
Mr John Baptist Kakooza, a former corporation secretary of NSSF says however, “As a good manager, if the politician is asking you to do something wrong, you have the choice to refuse.
“Let’s assume it is true that pressure was piled on Jamwa to undertake the Temangalo deal, did he survive because he had done what was asked of him? No.” Mr Kakooza adds that one does not need to be an angel from heaven in order to successfully work at the helm of NSSF; “All they have to do is to run the fund according to the law governing it which is the NSSF act, follow board decisions and any other rules and regulations. There is no way one can fail if they do this. They also have to steer clear of greed,” he cautions.
Dr Timothy Kyepa, a partner at Development Law Associates points elsewhere when asked where the root of the trouble is.
“The problem stems from the corporate governance structure challenge,” says Kyepa. “Aspects like transparency and independence of the Board are not catered for in any legal framework. Consequently you realise that most of these problems are internally generated,” he offers. “The NSSF Act for example does not comprehensively spell out the functions of the board. This leaves a lot of powers in the hands of the technocrats and the corporation secretary. Decision making is to the two. They have no systems checking them. And you can guess the impact of this.”
The law scholar adds that the NSSF act gives overwhelming powers to the Minister
“In such an arrangement the appointed person fears taking certain positions because the security of their tenure is determined by the Minister.”
The persons talked to all agree that choosing to work at the helm of NSSF is not the problem. Granted. Perhaps, effort should henceforth be focused to addressing the Achilles heel they highlight.
The fate of previous NSSF’s bosses
Richard Byarugaba
He came to office in 2010. He is the first MD to successfully serve his three year tenure. However a recent IGG investigation report established that he ignored the board’s advice against undertaking a land transaction. The Fund’s corporation secretary, David Nambale, was pinned for spending the Fund’s shs1.5 million to call his spouse.
Chandi Jamwa
He was appointed MD in 2007. In the early days he was applauded for growing the Fund’s assets. His contract was suspended in December 2008 to pave way for investigations into alleged mismanagement of the Fund. He was accused of causing financial loss to the fund after selling off treasury bonds a few days to their maturity. He was also accused of spending workers money in casinos His contract was due to expire in 2009. In 2011 he sentenced by the Anti – Corruption court to 12 years in jail. Also suspended was his deputy Mondo Kagonyera.
Leonard Mpuuma
He served as the acting MD after Barongo’s suspension. He was confirmed in the position in 2003. His three year contract was to run till 2005. However he was sacked in December 2004. This followed accusations of financial impropriety in the joint venture housing deal between NSSF and Mugoya Construction Company. He together with former board chairman Onegi Obel and former labour minister Zoe Bakoko Bakoru were alleged to have caused the pension scheme a financial loss of shs8 billion.
Mr. Abel Katembwa
He was the Managing Director from 1990 to 1998. He was forced out of office in 1998 after allegations leveled against him for taking bribes from Alcon International Limited a company that had been contracted to construct worker’s house.
Dr Yoram Barongo
He took over the MD’s office after Katembwa’s departure. In January 2002 he was suspended by Zoe Bakoko Bakoru the then Minister of Labour. According to the suspension letter, the reason for the decision was “public outcry”. The suspension was stayed till December of the same year, when his contract expired. It was never renewed.
