By Leonard Kamugisha AKIDA
The Agency for National Transformation and Morrison Rwakakamba have tiday Minday May18th dragged the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) to the constitutional court of Uganda demanding that the fund gives back 20% of its members savings to cushion them from the economic effects caused by COVID-19.
In a court summon letter dated today which was seen by parrotsug, court gave an ultimatum of 10days to NSSF and the State Attorney General to respond to the petition lest judgement be given in their absence.
Rwakakamba’s petition follow the ongoing public debates demanding the fund to give them 20% of their savings to help them in these mired situations caused by corona virus pandemic.
A couple of weeks ago, Kampala Central MP Muhammad Nsereko moved a motion on the floor of Parliament proposing that NSSF members are allowed to access at least 20 per cent of their savings due to the effect of Covid-19. The motion which has created factions among Members of Parliament still remains a matter with some promising to support the motion while others are against the proposal.
Mr Richard Byarugaba, the NSSF managing director, was recently quoted saying that the proposal has more negatives than positives and would have far reaching implications on the larger economy.
He argued that the fund would need about 3.4trillions to pay members the percentage in demand as well as more 800b to clear retiring members.
Other reports indicated that NSSF doesn’t have enough funds to pay the proposed 20% to its members since it has to first pay members who have clocked to the recommended beneficiary 55yrs of age.
Rwakakamba joins sections of the people saving withNSSF to agitate for the proposed percentage.
Morrison Rwakakamba is the firmer presidential assistant advisor on research and information. He is the founding CEO of the public “Think Tank” – Agency for Transformation.
