Ugandan President Signs National Social Security Bill into Law

In November last year, Ugandan Parliament had passed the NSSF Bill, 2021 which among others, provided midterm access to the contributors and remove restrictions on access for voluntary savings.

While debating the report of the Committee on Gender, Labour and Social Development on the NSSF Bill, Parliament voted to amend Section 24A of the principal Act to allow workers who are 45 years and above and have saved for at least 10 years to have a midterm access of up to 20 per cent of their savings, whilst persons With disabilities (PWDs) who have saved with the Fund for more than 10 years can have access of up to 50 per cent of their accrued savings.

The bill was first passed by the 10th Parliament before it was returned to the House by President Museveni and later re-tabled by the 11th Parliament after the lapse of business of the previous Parliament.

The new law further grants the Minister power to prescribe by regulations and in consultation with the Board, the procedure for making voluntary contributions and benefits.

On the supervisory role of NSSF, the Ugandan parliament also voted that the Ministry of Gender takes the lead role in handling social security matters while Ministry of Finance’s role is limited to handling matters on finances and investments of the Fund. This has been one of the most contentious clauses in the Bill.