Latest Posts

NSSF Bill: President Museveni Writes To Speaker Oulanyah

President Yoweri Museveni has formally written to the Speaker of Parliament returning the National Social Security Fund Bill, 2019 with proposals for amendment.

Oulanyah revealed the contents of Museveni’s letter dated 26th August, 2021 during the Tuesday plenary sitting saying that he had received the letter on the same day.

“I received the National Social Security Fund (Amendment) Act, 2019 for assent, however, following numerous appeals from workers, trade unions, who are the contributors to the fund… I held several meetings with their leaders, technical people from the Ministries of Finance, Gender and the NSSF… it has been agreed that the Bill should be returned to parliament for reconsideration,” read part of the President’s letter.

The Bill had endorsed a proposal for the government to allow savers who have clocked 45 years and had saved for 10 years to access 20 percent of their savings. After several months of back and forth with the fund managers and workers, the President said he would only assent to the Bill with amendments.

In his letter to Speaker Oulanyah, the President says that the commencement date of the Act needs to be amended so that it comes into force on the date of its publication in the gazette.

Museveni says that allowing midterm access for all members who are 45 years and above or those who have saved for 10 years increases the total number of members eligible to access midterm which would be unsustainable for the fund.

In regard to supervision of the Fund, the President says that the supervision of the Fund should remain under the Ministry of Finance.

“Sometime back I wrote to the former Speaker of Parliament about the need for the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to supervise the Fund as opposed to the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development or both. The problem with splitting the supervisory role is that, apart from delaying decision making, it will create room for corruption. It is also evident, that the Fund has grown its portfolio under the supervision of Ministry of Finance,” Museveni noted.

The President also noted that the managing director of the Fund should have a right to vote in decision making by the Board is.

However, Oulanyah said that the NSSF Bill matter is no longer with the Eleventh Parliament as per his ruling last week regarding the lapse of all pending business of the Tenth Parliament. He said that the Bill will only be considered when it is tabled afresh and the President’s letter will be used for reference by the relevant committee.

The Speaker also said that a motion proposed by the Chairperson of Public Accounts Committee- PAC Central Government, Medard Lubega Sseggona to have reports of the Attorney General passed by the Tenth Parliament to be recalled would not be considered by the Eleventh Parliament.

In response, Mathias Mpuuga, the Leader of Opposition said that lapsing of parliament business is a serious indictment on parliament’s methods of work given the cost of processing Bills.

He said that Parliament’s Rules Committee needs to urgently revisit rules regarding reinstatement of business.

Mpuuga noted that private members meet a lot of costs to process and move a Bill in parliament and that these efforts should not be frustrated.

Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, the Kira Municipality MP said that the number of Bills that have by the Speaker’s ruling collapsed are unprecedented in the history of parliament.

He said that these Bills include even those presented by government and contributed to by Ministers and only to be later returned by the President or lapse.

Wilfred Niwagaba, the Shadow Attorney General took to the floor and noted that he intends to bring a substantive motion under Rule 87 to vary the Speaker’s ruling especially in respect to business that had not gone to the President so that the business that was still pending in committees can be reinstated.

However, Oulanyah rejected Niwagaba’s request saying that his proposed motion would be in violation of Rule 235 (4) which requires it to come in the second sitting of the first session of Parliament.

Oulanyah however said that he would be giving guidance on a case by case basis in regard to business that was pending before committees.

The Speaker asked MPs to put the matter to rest and allow the Attorney General re-introduce the Bills and parliament committees assess them.

“Why are we behaving as if the last parliament has sanctioned this parliament to inherit permanently without amendment, what it has done?” Oulanyah questioned.

The Speaker said that he trusts the current leadership and MPs to committees in the Eleventh parliament to carry out the necessary assessment of the Bills.

Besides the NSSF Bill, the others affected by the Speaker’s decision are the Sexual Offences Bill, the Succession Bill, The National Health Insurance, The Fisheries Amendment Bill, 2020, and National Climate Change Bill, 2020, Anti-Slavery Bill 2020, National Local Content Bill, the Real Estates Bill 2020, the Estates of Missing Persons (Management) Amendment Bill 2019, Land Lord and Tenant Bill 2019, Marriage and Divorce Bill 2015, the Succession Amendment Bill 2020 and others.

*****

URN

Loading

Don't Miss

EXPOSED! Muyenga Tycoon’s Maid Cited In Land Wrangle

In recent days, Muyenga, Y2K Zone a push Kampala suburb,

Parliament Orders Closure Of Fuelex Petrol Stations For Adulterating Fuel

The Parliamentary Committee on Trade And Industry led by Mbarara

Big Story: Parliament Probes UETCL Bosses Over Corruption, Mismanagement & Controversial UGX 28Billion Compensation Deal

Members of Parliament on the Committee on Environment and Natural

‘Back Off Buganda Land’ Kabaka Mutebi Castigates People Pushing For Abolition Of Mailo Land Tenure System

The Kabaka of Buganda Kingdom Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II has

Big Story: IGG Probes Over Shs1bn Ubos Fraud

The Inspector General of Government (IGG) is investigating top officials

EXPLOSIVE: How Speaker Kadaga & Confidant Hon. Okupa Spent Over US $764,000 (Shs2.8 BN) In-less Than 2 Years In Travels Abroad

Since taking office as Deputy Speaker of Parliament way back

Ham Vs DTB Appeal: Bank Of Uganda Runs Out Of Case, Leaves DTB To Carry Its Own Cross

Bank of Uganda has officially quit the case involving city

Amnesty International Joins Push To Free Presidential Runner Robert Kyagulanyi

The Ugandan authorities must immediately lift the police and military

Exporters Call For Strong Action Against EAC States’ Trade Barriers

Manufacturers have called on the government to impose tough measures

Big Story: How KCCA Officials Messed Up Youth Fund Programs, Stole Billions of Gov’t Funds In Shoddy Deals

Kampala: If there is any government Authority that frustrating President

I Predict Museveni, NRM Victory In 2021 Elections

By Faruk Kirunda Kampala: As we dive into the high

Crisis: Lord Mayor Lukwago Defies Court Order, Appoints Balondemu As Chairman K’la District Land Board

Veteran lawyer Hajji Elias Lukwago, who is the Kampala city

Scandal: Stanbic Bank Bosses Allegedly Steal Borrowers’ Land Titles, Mortgage Them To Dfcu Bank

Several officials at Stanbic Bank are in deep trouble after

Scandal: KCCA Officials On Spot For Blowing Shs 8Bn Under The Guise Of Renovating Old Tax Park

Several officials at the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), are

Covid-19 Crisis: Ugandan Students Expected To Sit For UNEB Exams In March 2021

All indications are that a dead year will not be

BoU To Appeal In Supreme Court Over Trashed Crane Bank Case

The Bank of Uganda (BOU) has said it will be

Shame As Top Police Boss Is Convicted Of Car Theft, Ordered To Pay Over Shs282M

Untold shame has engulfed the Uganda Police a senior officer

Just In! Energy Mafias Rock Parliament As Patriotic Young Turks Question AIGP Akullo’s Involvement In Min. Energy Corruption

Panic has rocked Parliament as renowned Parliamentarian and Lawyer Hon.

Energy Mafias Debunked Part III: How Werikhe, Turyagyenda Corruptly Swindled Shs15 Bn For 3 Electricity Distribution Projects In Acholi, Bunyoro & Kiruhura

FUNDING THE COUP THROUGH ENERGY AND MINERALS CORRUPTION By the

Just In: Top Energy Officials Fired On Presidential Orders Over Massive Theft Of Electricity Distribution Funds

By Our Reporter Kampala: Two senior officials of Rural Electrification

Salary Scam Hits KCCA AS 29bn Is Paid To Ghost Workers

After Eng Andrew Kitata took over as the acting Executive

Two Suspects Arrested In Connection With Mukono Supermarket Armed Robbery 

Police have confirmed the arrest of two suspects in connection

Pictorial: Lt.Gen Mugira Inspects Modern NEC Katonga Farm

The Managing Director of National Enterprise Corporation (NEC), the business