The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Deputy Managing Director Geraldine Ssali Busulwa has been fired.
According to a letter, the NSSF Board led by Patrick Byabakama Kaberenge, who is the chairman found Ms Ssali’s performance wanting and decided not to renew her contract that ends this October.
“That Ms Geraldine Ssali Busuulwa 43, Deputy Managing Director should not be renewed but allowed to exist from the fund. Her performance over the last three years has been just good enough between (A and C) even though she contests that assessment for some period, and most of it alluded to good performance of her direct reports/subordinates” a letter dated a three page letter dated September 26 and addressed to the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Mr Matia Kasaija reads in part.
The letter also says contracts for the top three NSSF managers be extended from three to five years and the board approves the renewal of the NSSF Managing Director Mr. Richard Byarugaba, and that of Mr. Richard Wabwire, the Corporation Secretary.
“As per our board request and ministerial approval dated July 18, 2016, the new contract period has now been revised to five years. The board of directors resolved and recommends for your approval as follows, (a) That Mr. Richard Wejuli Wabwire 52, Corporation Secretary who has had a consistent very good performance (rated A throughout the balance scorecard performance rating tool) be reappointed to a new five year contract with the fund, he is a very good resource to the fund. His high sense of maturity and attitude complement this assertion).
on Mr. Byarugaba, the board wrote, “That Mr. Richard Patrick Byarugaba 56, Managing Director (who has had a consistent A rating) be renewed and reappointed for a new five contract”.
The contracts of the top three bosses at the Fund ends this October and in November, the board was supposed to start the search process to replace them.
However, the board saw it fitting to retain the best and through a letter, has recommended to the Minister of Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Mr. Matia Kasaija, to retain Byarugaba and Wabwire while Ms. Ssali has been left out.
“During the meeting where the three managers were appraised, Wabwire and Byarugaba were found to have performed excellently and therefore, they have been recommended to retain their job. For Ms Ssali, during her three year contract, she didn’t impress the board and more so, she was abrasive,” the sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, told EagleOnline.
Efforts to contact all parties involved were futile by press time.
Meanwhile, the decision by the NSSF Board means is that search process for the top bosses is not taking place like in 2014 and therefore, Mr. Byarugaba and Mr Wabwire will return to the fund for three more years while Ssali exits.
Ms Ssali was appointed NSSF Deputy MD in 2011 by the then Finance Minister, Syda Bbumba. However, this was after a final interview report of June 2014 by PriceWaterHouse Coopers (PWC), which indicated that Mr Patrick Ayota had emerged top in the interviews for the position, after scoring 85 per cent in the final interview before the board.
Mr. Ayota was followed by Ms Monica Rubombora with 82 per cent, while Ms Ssali, who was at the time outgoing Deputy MD, came third with 77 per cent.
However, Mr Ayota was never given the job as Ms Ssali was reappointed by Ms Maria Kiwanuka the Finance Minister who succeeded Ms. Bbumba.
Mr Ayota was however, retained by the fund as Chief Finance Officer to date.
Mr. Byarugaba is the longest-serving NSSF MD and has been at the Fund since 2010 since he moved in to replace the then troubled David Chandi Jamwa.
