Matia Kasaija, the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, has appointed a new board of directors for the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) for the next three years effective September 1, 2021.
The new board will be headed by Dr. Peter Kimbowa, a corporate governance and management expert.
Kimbowa, who is also the team leader at the CEO Summit Uganda, a private sector Think Tank, Managing Partner at IFE Consultants Limited and an award-winning business leader, replaces Patrick Byabakama Kaberenge, whose term expired on August 30, 2021 after he had served for last six years.
Kasaija also appointed to the Board 4 representatives of the trade unions, 2 representatives of employers through the Federation of Uganda Employers (FUE).
The Minister re-appointed Aggrey David Kibenge representing the Ministry of Gender, Labour & Social Development and Patrick Ocailap, representing the Ministry of Finance, Planning & Economic Development.
The Minister also appointed Dr Eng Silver Mugisha and Mr Fred K Bamwesigye representing Employers through the Federation of Uganda Employers (FUE);
Other appointees are Sam Lyomoki and Penninah Tukamwesiga representing workers under the Confederation of Free Trade Unions (COFTU).
Mr Bahemuka Julius and Hassan Lwabayi Mudiba, also representing workers under the National Organisation of Trade Unions (NOTU).
The NSSF managing director Richard Byarugaba will continue serving as the only executive member of the 12th Board.
Speaking for the first time about his appointment, Kimbowa said that he views the appointment as a challenge given the stability the Fund has enjoyed over the last decade.
“It is a big challenge at a personal and professional level, because the Fund has been very successful beyond expectations over the last 8 years or so. So, we will have to find what is missing, or the next opportunity that can regenerate the Fund, re-imagine what else is possible to create the Fund of the future”, he said.
He said that his vision for the next 3 years is three-fold – Reshape and repurpose the investment portfolio to make it more responsive to the market, take advantage of the 5th industrial revolution by prioritising digitisation and analytics, and ensure the right culture to make NSSF fit for purpose.
He also pledged to work with all the stakeholders and build mutual trust with management while raising substantive issues to improve governance of the Fund.
“We will ask the right questions, be open minded with a deep sense of curiosity but we must also be willing to remain agile and very adaptive, move with the times but also ahead of the times. In summary, we will ask, analyse and follow through,” he added.
NSSF managing director Richard Byarugaba expressed his appreciation to the outgoing board for providing oversight and leadership at a time when the Fund and the entire retirement benefits sector was preparing for reforms that will be ushered in by the NSSF Amendment Bill (2019) that is expected to be enacted this year.
“The appointment of Mr. Kimbowa, a corporate governance expert, is a message from the Minister that he wants to maintain the stability the Fund has enjoyed over the last decade, but also prepare us for a new era,” he said.
Byarugaba said the new Board has been appointed at an opportune time to steer the Fund through a transition as it positions itself to play a major role in the expansion of social security coverage and expanding the long-term savings space in Uganda.
