The Inspector General of Government (IGG), Ms. Beti Kamya, has stated that Mr. Richard Byarugaba, the former managing director of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), is not guilty of improperly approving a payment of Shs5 billion to two board members and staff who retired voluntarily.
Ms. Kamya had previously instructed Mr. Byarugaba and the chief financial officer, Henry Mwanje, to repay the money. However, in her recent decision, she has advised the Fund to utilize the directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy to recover the funds within six months.
In a letter dated September 20, Ms. Kamya pointed out that Mr. Byarugaba became a member of the Fund’s board of directors by law when the NSSF Act was amended in 2022. Therefore, his actions were in alignment with the board’s resolutions.
The letter stated, “Richard Byarugaba implemented the two board decisions as a principal signatory to the Fund, along with CFO Mwanje, by authorizing a total payment of Shs5.08 billion as compensation to two departing board members and staff who retired under the voluntary retirement scheme.”
The inspectorate further added, “It is reasonable to conclude that both Byarugaba and Mwanje were executing the board’s decisions. The board, in turn, was motivated by the need to implement the 2022 NSSF Act amendment and the recommendations of the consultant, Deloitte and Touche, to streamline staff levels for improved performance.”
Mbarara South MP Mr. Mwine Mpaka, who chaired the parliamentary probe committee investigating matters at the Fund, stated, “We requested the Minister of Gender to provide substantial evidence supporting her allegations against Byarugaba, but she failed to do so. That’s why we referred this case to the IGG and Director of Public Prosecutions for further investigation.”
Ms. Kamya’s decision came after an appeal by Mr. Byarugaba, who, in a letter dated July 13, asserted his innocence.
Mr. Byarugaba expressed his satisfaction with the IGG’s decision and indicated that he would use it as evidence in court. He stated, “I am very pleased and relieved to have been cleared. I acted within my official capacity, and this shows that the charges against me were an attempt to frame me and deprive me of my job.”