Advertisement

Uganda President Museveni now intervenes in wrangles at NSSF

Saturday May 14 2016
UG nssf

The Uganda National Social Security Fund headquarters. President Yoweri Museveni intervened in the leadership wrangles at the state-controlled NSSF, persuading managing director Richard Byarugaba and his deputy Geraldine Ssali Busulwa to work together. PHOTO | FILE |

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni last week intervened in the leadership wrangles at the state-controlled National Social Security Fund, persuading managing director Richard Byarugaba and his deputy Geraldine Ssali Busulwa to work together.

Finance Minister Matia Kasaija last week called Ms Busulwa who has been on interdiction to report back to her office immediately and withdraw a court case in which she is demanding $500,000 for wrongful dismissal.

Mr Kasaija’s intervention is said to have followed a meeting between President Museveni and Ms Busulwa that sought to defuse tensions between her and Mr Byarugaba.

The disagreement between the two top officials of the pension fund exploded in March this year, leading to the suspension of Ms Busulwa by the Fund’s board for alleged insubordination and frequent disagreements with her boss.

READ: Is Richard Byarugaba walking a tightrope at NSSF Uganda?

ALSO READ: Scramble for control as detectives probe Uganda's NSSF

Advertisement

Ms Busulwa protested the decision in a court case filed in the High Court, demanding reversal of her suspension or compensation. Though the High Court issued an injunction against her suspension from office, the NSSF management apparently ignored the court directive, compelling the aggrieved executive to pursue political channels in the fight to regain her position, observers claim.

Final solution

Mr Kasaija is said to have been ordered to prevail upon the NSSF top bosses to find a final solution to the leadership dispute.

Subsequently, Mr Kasaija summoned Mr Byarugaba and the entire NSSF board to a meeting at the Finance Ministry to communicate the president’s decision.

Mr Kasaija issued three directives originating from the president’s instructions, particularly an order compelling the NSSF board to reinstate Ms Ssali on condition that she withdraw the court case.

After the 10-minute briefing, Mr Kasaija allowed the two parties to deliberate on the matter before he addressed a press conference. Though a follow up meeting held by the NSSF board team on the same day seemed critical of Ms Busulwa’s conduct, there were no clues on a definitive solution to the conflict, The EastAfrican learnt.

Observers point to incompatibility in character between Mr Byarugaba and Ms Busulwa as the root cause of the leadership wars at Uganda’s largest financial institution — it has total assets valued at Ush6.1 trillion ($1.8 billion) in January 2016.

Though famed for motivating employees, Mr Byarugaba is also faulted by critics for a harsh attitude towards junior employees during his management career.

Advertisement