A select Committee of Parliament directed to probe in house controversies and alleged mismanagement of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) has released a 500 page report implicating the Gender Minister Betty Amongi Ongom, among others.
The committee has listed a number of recommendations to be adopted for the smooth running of the institution following allegations of gross mismanagement and financial loss leveled against those operating it.
The seven member committee led by the Mbarara City South legislator, Mwine Mpaka Rwamirama, was instituted on 25th January 2023, by the Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa to evaluate the status and safety of workers’ savings.
The commitee tabled the report on the floor of parliament during plenary on Wednesday where among other things they found Hon Among guilty of abuse of office because she unlawfully directed NSSF to release six billion Shillings to the prejudice of savers’ funds.
Mpaka stated that the Minister’s actions were arbitrary and a violation of Section 11 of the Anti-Corruption Act which tantamount to abuse of office and warrants her resignation with immediate effect. The committee recommended that Amongi resigns her position in the public interest.
The Committee implicated the Fund’s Managing Director and his senior staff for illegally initiating the release of 1.8 billion Shillings under the pretext of Corporate Social Responsibility/Investment. They allocated 250 million to the Board Chairman, 250 million to Amongi, 500 million to Board Members and 800 million to different unions.
The report recommended the NSSF top management; Richard Byarugaba, his Deputy Patrick Ayota, Chief Financial Officer Stevens Mwanje, and Barbara Arimi Teddy, the Head of Marketing and Corporate Affairs who initiated the 1.8 billion Shillings budget for donations also step down with immediate effect.
The Committee recommended conducting a Life Style audit on the former MD , the ag MD Mr Ayota Patrick, the Chief Investment officer Mr Gerald Paul, the Chief Commercial Officer Mr Geoffrey Sajjabi, Mr Benoni Katende, Mr Milton Owor, Mr Geoffrey Barigye.
Mpaka explained that this would pave way for further investigations by the Inspector General of Government – IGG for the offences relating to abuse of office, corruption and conspiracy to commit a felony with a view of immediate prosecution.
The Committee also noted that the Chief Financial Officer Stevens Mwanje failed his responsibility of ensuring that he obtains accountability for monies disbursed to the Central Organisation of Free Trade Unions – COFTU and the National Organisation of Trade Unions (NOTU) amounting to 805.525 million Shillings between January 2018 to December 2022.
Mwanje was appointed to the position by NSSF in October 2017 without being a member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants contrary to Section 34 (2) of the Accountants Act, 2013. They recommend that the Directorate of Public Prosecution – DPP prosecute Mwanje for practicing without a certificate.
Furthermore, the Committee pronounced itself that the nomination and subsequent appointments of Dr Sam Lyomoki and Peninnah Tukamwesiga as representatives on the NSSF Board by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development were illegal and they should be recalled.
Also the Committee noted that two former Board Members; Julius Bahemuka and Fred Bamwesigye upon resignation were unlawfully paid a total sum of 624 million Shillings by the NSSF yet resignation is voluntary and thus not entitled to compensations whatsoever.
They recommended the Board Members who included; Dr Peter Kimbowa, Patrick Ocailap, Aggrey Kibenge, Peninnah Tukamwesiga, Dr. Sam Lyomoki, Julius Bahemuka, Hassan Lwabahyi Mudiba, Fred Bamwesigye and Dr. Eng Silver Mugisha who approved the said payments should collectively refund the monies to the savers’ Fund within seven days or face prosecution.
The committee also recommended that NSSF be put under dual leadership by the Ministries of Finance and Gender.
Last but not least, the Committee also recommended that COFTU and NOTU should refund the 806 million Shillings which they illegally received from NSSF.
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