Rtd Capt Dononzio Mugabe Kahonda, the legislator representing the people of Ruhinda county in the 10th Parliament of Uganda has stressed his readiness to support the controversial National Social Security Fund motion on the floor of Parliament. The motion proposes that NSSF members access at least 20 per cent of their savings.
“As MP from Ruhinda, I have received a lot of phone calls about NSSF savings. Me as a representative county I will support the motion to give a certain percent to people who use NSSF cause most of people who save under NSSF work in private sectors,” MP Kahonda elucidated.
Kahonda said this while he was appearing on a live broadcast on 92.1 Bfm Radio, a local radio station in Bushenyi district earlier today. He revealed that there are several calls from his constituents seeking for his stand on the motion.
His comments follow the hot debates in the public domain demanding the fund to pay them a minimum of 20% of their social security fund to help them in these COVID-19 hardships.
During a radio talk show, Rtd Capt Kahonda, warned the People of Ruhinda against decisive leaders who personalise government programmes in their areas of representation.
“We need to sensitize people about the roles of each leader from LC1 to LCV and MPs. We don’t need to call Gov’t programmes our programmes, some MPs go around lying people that they have constructed roads yet those roads are under Gov’t programmes.” Kahonda warned.
Its not clear if he was scorning his long time political rival Rtd Maj Gen Kahinda Otafiire who is allegedly reported to have been telling Ruhinda People that he’s behind the construction of anewly constructed Kashenyi- Mitooma termac road that is under expansion plans via Kashensero to Rukungiri and other projects such as extension of pipped water, Hydro Electric power in different parts of Ruhinda .
About the NSSF Motion.
Last week, Kampala Central MP Muhammad Nsereko moved a motion in Parliament proposing that NSSF members are allowed to access at least 20 per cent of their savings due to the effect of Covid-19.
Although a section of the public has been asking NSSF to pay members at least 20 per cent of their savings, the Fund says the move would benefit few yet cause irreparable damage on the wider economy and the financial system.
Recently, Richard Byarugaba, the NSSF managing director, said 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.
The current legal framework only allows members to access their savings upon clocking 55 years of age or when they suffer from permanent incapacity or emigrate permanently from Uganda.
IN OTHER NEWS:
Maj Gen (Rtd) Kahinda Otafiire, E.A affairs Minister popularly known as the drunken master and father of politics in Mitooma district also a political rival of the incumbent Rtd Captain Kahonda has earlier today returned the Shs 20millions to the Mitooma District Task Force on COVID-19.
Maj Gen Otafiire also donated Shs 30millions to the DTF to support the People of Ruhinda who were affected by the precedents of Corona virus.
The donations were received by the DTF head Ms Ada Nasiima, RDC Mitooma district today Saturday May16th, 2020.
Maj Gen Otafiire is expected to come back for Ruhinda County MP seat in the 2021 General Elections. However, there’s a likelihood of not contesting against Incumbent Capt Kahonda who double-defeated him (Otafiire) in the 2016 since there’s a motion in Parliament to create a new Kabira County (Ruhinda South) where Kahonda hails from.