The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) declares an interest rate of 10.75% for the current financial year

NSSF Board and Management during the Fund's virtual AGM. PHOTO By NSSF Media

The Finance Minister Hon. Matia Kasaija has congratulated the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) team upon delivering a remarkable performance in the 2019/2020 in spite of the challenging macro environment. This was during the Fund’s Annual Members Meeting held virtually due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Hon. Kasaija said that despite the COVID-19 pandemic that has affected the economy and many businesses, NSSF has remained resilient, meeting its annual business objectives especially in the areas of Assets Under Management that grew by 17% from shs11.3 trillion to shs13.3trillion and the total revenue that increased by 17%.

This comes after NSSF declared an interest rate of 10.75% for this financial year 2019/2020. The rate declared translates into a total of shs1.14trillion that will be credited to the fund’s more than two million members’ accounts.

This is higher than the shs933 billion that was paid to members in the last financial year.

The 10.75% interest rate is a few points lower than last year’s 11% interest majorly due to the economic slowdown occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic and deferment of dividend payments by Bank of Uganda, among other factors, that affected the fund’s performance.

The NSSF Managing Director, Richard Byarugaba reechoed the fund’s resilience in the tough operating environment saying many businesses both locally and globally are either closing down or seeking solutions for survival rather than expansion adding that the Fund has been able to absorb the shocks as evidenced from the performance.

The NSSF Board of Directors chairperson, Patrick Kaberenge reassured members that the fund was still committed to preserving value for their savings, adding that the return earned had remained stable despite a tough investment environment characterized by a strong shilling and depressed equity markets.

This comes almost a fortnight after NSSF introduced online and on-mobile submissions of benefits claims for their members who qualified for withdrawal of their savings.