Inside stormy State House meeting where Museveni dismissed NSSF’s Byarugaba contract renewal

The meeting with National Social Security Fund members which was called by President Museveni at State House Entebbe ended without ceremony, according to sources.

It is reported that the meeting which started in the afternoon of Thursday was a show of power and it highlighted the clash at the Fund as both sides used available means to impede the other.

Initially, there were several efforts made to hinder the Gender, Labor and Social Development minister Betty Amongi from attending, and the meeting went on smoothly almost till the end when she walked in, and hell broke loose.

It should be noted that Amongi had just recently renewed Patrick Ayota’s tenure as NSSF Deputy Managing Director but also appointed him to serve as the Managing Director on a caretaker basis.

The meeting led by Board Chairman Peter Kimbowa went on and about Byarugaba’s contract and why it should be renewed despite clocking retirement age, with Museveni agreeing with them that age should not be the basis but the performance by appraisal.

The matter of mismanagement of the Fund was also touched and hard questions were asked over the Shs6b which was apparently disbursed to Amongi’s ministry, with members accusing Amongi of using the scenario to frustrate Byarugaba’s contract.

Other accusations were made regarding the NSSF Housing projects and Amongi was accused of using the opportunity to replace Byarugaba such that she can influence the project and take cuts off it.

Byarugaba at this moment out of the meeting, and President Museveni also insisted the meeting could not proceed because the person being “accused is not here”.

There was tension now as the president asked that the meeting be adjourned until an opportune time when all parties being accused are present.

It is then that Amongi appeared from ‘nowhere’ and was invited to the microphone.

Amongi defended herself on refusing to sign Byarugaba’s contract, urging that there are several petitions from many stakeholders asking for an investigation into Byarugaba and the Fund.

https://nilepost.co.ug/2022/12/23/minister-amongi-witch-hunting-byarugaba-for-refusal-to-allow-shs6bn-irregular-request-from-nssf-says-notus-owere/

She said Byarugaba and the group are putting pressure on all sides to ensure that his contract is signed hastily so that he returns to the Fund and continues a money-eating bonanza.

She said it was important that investigations be carried out first rather than the clamour for contracts.

The president then asked her to comment on the allegations of the Shs6b and she said it was not her money as Amongi but for activities of the NSSF and to popularize amendments of the Fund.

The meeting disagreed on the details of Amongi’s defence, and it took the president’s effort to bring order before he asked that indeed if it is investigations into Byarugaba then “why can’t it be done?”

The members also raised the matter that Amongi should be investigated as well.

Museveni asked that he is given more information from investigations into both people after which he will summon another meeting.

In the meantime, he insisted that contract renewal to Byarugaba should not be discussed until information on his “behaviour in office” was obtained.

Museveni then walked out of the meeting as the attendants turned to each other in confusing dialogue.