The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) launched a nationwide membership campaign aimed at increasing the number of employers and employees registered with the Fund, as it intensified efforts to expand social security coverage across Uganda.Speaking during an engagement with employees of Pearl Dairies and journalists in Mbarara City, NSSF Senior Public Relations Officer Victory Karamagi said the campaign, branded “Now You Come,” was designed to encourage every employer to register workers and begin making regular retirement savings.
Karamagi explained that under the amended NSSF Act, employees contribute 5 percent of their monthly salary while employers contribute 10 percent. He emphasized that the law now requires all employers, regardless of the number of workers they employ, to register with the Fund and comply with the contribution requirements.He noted that the amended law removed the previous exemption for businesses employing between one and four workers. As a result, every employer is now expected to enroll eligible employees to ensure they benefit from social security and financial protection in retirement.
Karamagi also highlighted the business advantages of complying with the law, saying employers who register with NSSF often build stronger relationships with their employees through improved trust and loyalty. He added that NSSF compliance had become a key requirement for companies seeking to bid for government contracts, as firms must obtain an NSSF clearance certificate before participating in public procurement.To encourage compliance, NSSF extended a voluntary registration amnesty until June 28, 2023, giving employers additional time to register without immediate penalties. Karamagi warned that employers who failed to register after the grace period would face a monthly penalty of 10 percent of the outstanding contributions as provided by law.
The Fund also reported steady progress under its 2015–2025 strategic plan. By the end of March 2023, NSSF’s total assets had grown to approximately Shs18 trillion, moving closer to its target of Shs20 trillion before the end of the strategy period. Since the amended NSSF Act came into force, the Fund had also enrolled more than 19,000 employees and over 3,000 employers.
Looking ahead, NSSF said it aimed to recruit 1.2 million new members and register 50,000 employers by 2025, bringing total membership to about 1.8 million. Meanwhile, Lakeside Dairy Limited Human Resource Manager Sylvia Nayebare said the company had already registered 80 of its 300 employees with NSSF and planned to enroll more staff in the near future.
