In this article, we will provide a brief overview of the NSSF Act and its amendments, and explain how you can download a PDF copy of the act for your reference.
Overview of the NSSF Act
The NSSF Act establishes the fund as a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal. The fund is managed by a board of directors appointed by the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. The board is responsible for the general functions and duties of the fund, such as setting policies, approving budgets, investing funds, and overseeing administration. The board appoints a managing director, a deputy managing director, a secretary, and other staff to carry out the day-to-day operations of the fund.
The NSSF Act provides for the membership, contributions, and benefits of the fund. The membership of the fund is compulsory for all employers and employees who belong to a class or description specified by the Minister, or who register voluntarily with the fund. The employers are required to pay a standard contribution of 15% of the employee's monthly wages to the fund, of which 5% is deducted from the employee's wages and 10% is paid by the employer. The fund may also levy a special contribution from contributing employers for specific purposes. The contributions are credited to individual member accounts and earn interest at a rate determined by the board.
The NSSF Act describes the benefits that are payable to members or their dependents under certain conditions. The benefits include age benefit, withdrawal benefit, invalidity benefit, emigration grant, and survivor's benefit. The age benefit is payable to a member who attains the age of 55 years or retires from regular employment. The withdrawal benefit is payable to a member who ceases to be an employee for any reason other than retirement or invalidity. The invalidity benefit is payable to a member who becomes permanently incapable of working due to physical or mental disability. The emigration grant is payable to a member who emigrates permanently from Uganda to another country. The survivor's benefit is payable to the dependents of a deceased member.
The NSSF Act also provides for the determination of claims and questions relating to contributions and benefits, the correction of erroneous decisions, the finance and audit of the fund, the exemption from stamp duty and income tax, the legal proceedings against or by the fund, and other miscellaneous matters.
Amendments to the NSSF Act
The NSSF Act has been amended several times since its enactment in 1985. Some of the major amendments are as follows:
The NSSF (Amendment) Act 2006 introduced new provisions on voluntary membership, supplementary payment, investment, reserve account, existing schemes, reciprocal agreements, and regulations.
The NSSF (Amendment) Act 2011 clarified the definition of eligible employee, increased the penalty for delay of payment of contribution, revised the description and calculation of benefits, and empowered the board to determine interest rates on accounts.
The NSSF (Amendment) Act 2022 expanded the scope of membership to include self-employed persons and workers in informal sectors, allowed members to access part of their savings before retirement for specified purposes such as housing, education, health, or business development, established an independent tribunal to adjudicate disputes arising from the fund, and enhanced transparency and accountability in the management and governance of the fund.
How to Download a PDF Copy of the NSSF Act
If you want to download a PDF copy of the NSSF Act for your reference, you can use one of the following links:
[NSSF Act 1985]: This is the original version of the act that established the fund and its basic framework.
[NSSF (Amendment) Act 2022]: This is the latest version of the act that incorporates all previous amendments and introduces new reforms.
[NSSF (Amendment) Act 2022 - ULII]: This is an alternative source for downloading the latest version of the act from the Uganda Legal Information Institute (ULII), a website that provides free access to Ugandan legal information.
We hope this article has been helpful and informative. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to contact us.
a7a7d27f09