Patrick Ayota appointed NSSF boss as Byarugaba drags Minister Amongi to Court

Betty Amongi, the Minister of Gender, Labour, and Social Development, has named Patrick M Ayota as the Managing Director of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) for a term of five years, effective from August 18, 2023.

Dr. Peter Kimbowa, Chairman of the NSSF Board of Directors, stated in a press release that Ayota’s appointment follows a recommendation from the NSSF Board of Directors to the Minister, in accordance with Sections 39 and 40 of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Act, as amended.

“Ayota has successfully served as the acting Managing Director of the Fund for the past 8 months, ensuring stability during a challenging period. The Board has confidence that he is the right individual to steer the Fund during this critical time, given the recent legislative changes that mandate the Fund to play a leading role in extending social security coverage to all Ugandans. The Board reassures all NSSF members, stakeholders, and the public that the Fund remains stable and on track to surpass its 2015-2025 Strategic Objectives,” Dr. Kimbowa stated on Friday.

Patrick Ayota, aged 62, joined NSSF in July 2011 and held the position of Chief Financial Officer until November 2017, when he was appointed Deputy Managing Director. He was also responsible for the Fund’s strategy function until the conclusion of his five-year contract as Deputy Managing Director on October 29, 2022.

Upon the expiration of his contract along with that of Managing Director Richard Byarugaba, both expressed their willingness to continue serving in accordance with the NSSF Human Resources Policy and Procedures.

It’s noteworthy that the mandatory retirement age for NSSF is 60. Ayota’s contract was extended by the board in December of the previous year, designating him as acting Managing Director until the appointment process is finalized.

Meanwhile, the former Managing Director of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), Richard Byarugaba, has filed a lawsuit against Minister Betty Amongi, the Minister of Gender, Labour, and Social Development.

In his legal suit, Byarugaba alleges that Amongi failed to support his reappointment for a third term as the Managing Director of the Fund.

Byarugaba asserts that his tenure as Managing Director demonstrated exceptional leadership in technology, innovation, customer relations, and the expansion of the fund to over 2 million members, with managed assets totaling sh1.7 trillion. He argues that these achievements make him qualified for reappointment.

Despite various recommendations from the Fund’s appointments board, the Permanent Secretary of the Gender and Labour Ministry, legal counsel from the Attorney General, and clearance from the parliamentary committee investigating financial mismanagement in the NSSF, Minister Amongi has refused to endorse his reappointment and has called for a new process to appoint a Managing Director.

Byarugaba has sought legal action in response to a letter from the Minister on June 30th, instructing the NSSF board to initiate a fresh hiring process for a new Managing Director.

He also seeks to compel Amongi to fulfill her statutory obligations and finalize his reappointment as the Fund’s Managing Director.

Byarugaba accuses the Minister of bias and hostility, claiming that she assumed the roles of accuser, investigator, prosecutor, and judge when levelling allegations of financial mismanagement against him. He further accuses her of disregarding the findings of the Inspector General of Government (IGG), which cleared him of these fabricated allegations and vindicated the NSSF board’s recommendation for his reappointment based on his past performance.