Right to social security and the effective management of National Social Security Fund in Uganda: A case study of Uganda Wildlife Authority staff savings

Abstract

This study sought to establish how effective NSSF is in the management and protection of workers savings for their social security. The effectiveness of NSSF in managing workers savings was investigated with a particular interest on how the organization’s services were affecting workers right to social security. Specific attention was put on NSSF’s clients working at Uganda Wildlife Authority. Based on a case study research design, this study combines qualitative and quantitative methods of research. This was aimed at capturing both statistical and non statistical components of research findings. Qualitatively the study, among others, sought workers opinions about whether NSSF was doing a good job in safeguarding their right to social security. Quantitatively, the study sought to get statistics about percentages of workers that were saving for social security as well as the investment portfolios that NSSF was investing their money in. Data collection was mainly through research questionnaires and follow up interviews. The research findings show that all workers at Uganda Wildlife Authority save with NSSF. The study revealed that NSSF invested these workers’ saving in various investment portfolios including fixed income investments in treasury bills, corporate bonds, government bonds, fixed income bank deposit as well as real estate and public and private equities. The profit from these investments was reported as contributing to the interest added on the workers’ savings. It was also found out that some of my respondents who had reached the age of 55 years had received their social security benefits. However, opinions from majority of respondents showed that NSSF has a negative image with most of the respondents unhappy with limited interest they receive on their savings as well as the associated bureaucracies and corruption. Despite the fact that NSSF is executing its mandate in ensuring that the right social security, the study concluded that the NSSF is not effective because of corruption, failure to control influence of government in its administration, and the associated bureaucracy. The study recommends that for NSSF’s effectiveness and image to improve, it should develop and implement strict measures against corruption. It is also recommended that regular annual all inclusive general meetings be held to allow the Fund to report to the workers but also listen to their grievances and advise. For further studies, it is suggested that the study be expanded to include NSSF clients nationally for better representation.

This study sought to establish how effective NSSF is in the management and protection of workers savings for their social security. The effectiveness of NSSF in managing workers savings was investigated with a particular interest on how the organization’s services were affecting workers right to social security. Specific attention was put on NSSF’s clients working at Uganda Wildlife Authority. Based on a case study research design, this study combines qualitative and quantitative methods of research. This was aimed at capturing both statistical and non statistical components of research findings. Qualitatively the study, among others, sought workers opinions about whether NSSF was doing a good job in safeguarding their right to social security. Quantitatively, the study sought to get statistics about percentages of workers that were saving for social security as well as the investment portfolios that NSSF was investing their money in. Data collection was mainly through research questionnaires and follow up interviews. The research findings show that all workers at Uganda Wildlife Authority save with NSSF. The study revealed that NSSF invested these workers’ saving in various investment portfolios including fixed income investments in treasury bills, corporate bonds, government bonds, fixed income bank deposit as well as real estate and public and private equities. The profit from these investments was reported as contributing to the interest added on the workers’ savings. It was also found out that some of my respondents who had reached the age of 55 years had received their social security benefits. However, opinions from majority of respondents showed that NSSF has a negative image with most of the respondents unhappy with limited interest they receive on their savings as well as the associated bureaucracies and corruption. Despite the fact that NSSF is executing its mandate in ensuring that the right social security, the study concluded that the NSSF is not effective because of corruption, failure to control influence of government in its administration, and the associated bureaucracy. The study recommends that for NSSF’s effectiveness and image to improve, it should develop and implement strict measures against corruption. It is also recommended that regular annual all inclusive general meetings be held to allow the Fund to report to the workers but also listen to their grievances and advise. For further studies, it is suggested that the study be expanded to include NSSF clients nationally for better representation.