An anonymous person has written to the Inspector General of Government (IGG) Irene Mulyagonja Kakooza, saying the NSSF Deputy Managing Director Geraldine Ssali Busuulwa, is not fit to hold the office.

In the communication, ‘Mrs Geraldine Ssali Busuulwa is not fit to be NSSF Deputy Managing Director’ dated May 20 and received by the IGG’s office on May 30, the whistleblower, that says has worked with the NSSF for more than years, makes a litany of accusations against Ms Ssali, among them ‘misconduct and insubordination’.

Giving a detailed narrative of the requisite qualifications including the job description for the NSSF Deputy MD, the whistleblower says Ms Ssali had breached her duty as prescribed, by failing ‘to provide leadership to the Fund’.

As a responsible staff member, I am required by the Fund’s Code of Ethics to bring to the attention of management the conduct and actions of Ms Ssali that I consider unethical or unlawful conduct,’ the whistleblower wrote in a four-page communication addressed to among others the Office of the President/State House; the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development; the Executive Director of the Uganda Retirement Benefits Regulatory Authority (URBRA); the Attorney General and to the Board Chairman and Managing Director of NSSF, respectively.

The whistleblower also expresses reservations as to whether Ms Ssali, who formerly worked as Head of the Directorate of Management in Her Majesty’s Treasury in the United Kingdom, is capable of meeting the job obligations of the multi-trillion shilling NSSF, an institution the whistleblower says, has over one million members.

‘For a person to qualify for that position, they must possess at leat 10 years working experience at a Head of Directorate level in a large financial services related organization. In addition, prior experience in managing large and complex business organisations with a big workforce whose skills are diverse; familiarity with the current global and local regulatory environment for investment funds as well as a demonstrated ability to on top of the developments in the pension sector globally are desirable. All those she didn’t have. For that matter, she lied about her track record and experience,’ the whistleblower writes.

The whistleblower adds: Therefore, Mrs Ssali misled the appointing authority, for this case the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development’.

Ms Ssali is also accused of professional misconduct for allegedly leaking ‘vital information to the media on the running of the Fund, a thing that contravenes the ethical code required of all employees of the Fund’.

Further, the whistleblower takes a jibe at Ms Ssali for suing the Fund for Shs2.5 billion ‘for her personal gain’, and for neglecting advice by the finance minister to drop the suits.

‘How can a top manager who is responsible for the savers money be the very one demanding for over Shs2.5 billion,; does she care for the organization and most importantly the savers’ money or is she here for only personal gain,’? the whistleblower wonders.

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South Sudan’s president, Salva Kiir has directed the country’s state governors to welcome members of armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) under the leadership of his political rival and first deputy in the coalition government, Riek Machar in the interest of peace and stability.

“I want you to go back to the states and tell people that Riek has come. He is now in Juba and the new government of national unity in which he and his members have been appointed has been formed. It is the government that will work for the implementation of peace agreement and tackle the economic matters. So go and tell people to embrace peace and stop unnecessarily fighting and killings,” said President Kiir.

“Also I want you to welcome members of SPLM IO when they go to the states, whether as individuals or group. They will be going to visit their families, their relatives and friends, welcome them”, he added.

Kiir, according to the governor of Ruweng state, also urged them (governors) to sensitize communities on the importance of peaceful of coexistence and to explain the prevailing political situation in the country after the formation of the government national unity.

“We have received directives from His Excellency, the president of the republic, General Salva Kiir Mayardit to sensitize communities to accept each other and live in peace,” Governor Mayol Kur said.

“The creation of states was not to divide people and kill themselves, no the objective as it was explained by the establishment order was to take the government and the services close to them to the people in light with the vision of the SPLM”, he further added.

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British troops have arrived in South Sudan where they will be part of a UN peacekeeping mission, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.

South Sudan, in north-eastern Africa, became the world’s newest country in 2011 when it gained independence from Sudan after a long-running civil war.

However, there is ongoing fighting there between the government and rebel forces, which has killed thousands and displaced millions from their homes.

Up to 300 UK troops are to be sent.

The small military team, which is the first wave of troops from Britain, will join more than 12,000 UN troops from more than 50 nations currently stationed in the country.

The UK personnel will be split into two engineer squadrons to provide ‘vital engineering work to strengthen infrastructure as well as further advisory support’, the MoD said.

There will be further deployments throughout the rest of 2016, it added.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said: “The arrival of British personnel clearly demonstrates our commitment to supporting UN efforts to improve conditions in some of the world’s most destabilising conflicts.”

Britain has long been a large financial contributor to UN peacekeeping missions and is the fifth highest provider of funds.

But its troop commitment has been relatively small – focused mainly on 250 soldiers based in Cyprus who wear the distinctive blue berets of the UN.

Prime Minister David Cameron announced last year the UK would double its contribution to active peacekeeping in 2016, with the deployment of British troops to South Sudan, as well as a team of 70 UK personnel to Somalia.

The first British troops arrived in Somalia last month.

It was in the UK’s interests to ‘step up’ in supporting both missions because it would lead to ‘less terrorism, less migration, less piracy’ Mr Cameron said.

British troops would not be involved in combat roles, he added.

After decades of fighting in the region that is now South Sudan, both sides signed a peace deal last August.

Opposition leader Riek Machar was sworn in as the country’s vice president in April as part of a new unity government with his rival, President Salva Kiir.

However, fighting has continued, and an estimated 1.7 million people are displaced from their homes, according to latest UN figures.

Since the UN’s South Sudan mission started in 2011, 17 peacekeeping troops have been killed.

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With history set to be made in Friday’s curtain-raiser, United States captain Michael Bradley said his team-mates are ready for a “special” Copa America Centenario.

For the first time in Copa history, the tournament will be staged outside of South America, with USA hosting the 45th edition of the showpiece event, 100 years on from its inception.

USA and 2001 champions Colombia, who make up Group A alongside Paraguay and Costa Rica, will open the Copa at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.

Jurgen Klinsmann’s side come into the tournament on a run of four consecutive wins, with Gyasi Zardes and teenager Christian Pulisic – USA’s youngest goalscorer – catching the eye as they lead a new wave of American talent.

And 115-cap midfielder Bradley, the second-most experienced player in the squad behind Clint Dempsey, feels USA are primed to shake things up at the Copa, which features defending champions Chile, 2014 World Cup runners-up Argentina, Brazil and 15-time winners Uruguay.

“It’s a good blend of youth and experience. I think there’s good balance in the team, and I think there’s big determination within the team to make this a special few weeks,” Bradley said.

“We’re happy with the way things went in these last two games. In terms of the spirit and the mentality of the group, it always helps, but we all understood that the second that whistle blew in Kansas City to finish the [Bolivia] game, those results meant nothing.

“Now it’s about understanding that the real thing is starting and we’ve got to have the right mentality, the right focus and know the difference between these types of games.”

Colombia, who boast a three-game winning streak, are out to spoil the party for the host nation in California.

Quarter-finalists at the Copa 12 months ago, Colombia are desperate to go further this time around.

Carlos Bacca will spearhead Colombia’s attack in the absence of Jackson Martinez and Radamel Falcao, while the centenary tournament provides captain James Rodriguez with the opportunity to either save his Real Madrid career or improve his chances of a potential move elsewhere.

James fell out of favour at Madrid following Zinedine Zidane’s appointment in January, his plight highlighted by the fact he was an unused substitute in the Champions League final victory over Atletico Madrid

@Goal

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