The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) launched its 4th Customer Connect Week on Tuesday, with various activities including Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives worth Shs200m specifically to skill the youth across the country.
Managing Director Richard Byarugaba told journalists that the Customer Connect Week is a Fund wide initiative through which all staff provide tailor made solutions to members in line their commitment to delivering great customer experience.
He said that the Fund is also undertaking a series of community initiatives in fulfilment of its duty to contribute to the well-being of the community.
While handing over equipment to Commissioner General, Uganda Prison Service Dr. Johnson Byabashaija, Byarugaba said that as a responsible institution, NSSF has a mandate to contribute to the well-being of the community.
The equipment donated to Murchison Bay Prison includes an angle grinder, metal cutting discs, engineer’s bench, gas welding kit, bench pillar drill, welding googles and many other related materials.
“Every year, our staff dedicate approximately 800 man hours to CSR activities. This year, we are spending over Shs 200 million on CSR in our branches across the country, specifically towards aiding community-based institutions that have Youth Skilling Projects,” he said.
The Commissioner General, Uganda Prison Dr. Johnson Byabashaija applauded NSSF for donating the fabrication equipment to Murchison Bay Prison. “We are pleased to receive this equipment as it will increase capacity to skill more youth as they undergo rehabilitation”, Byabashaija said, adding that many youth are unemployed and need to be trained in areas they can leverage on to earn income.
The Fund has also donated other assorted items to different parts of the country among which include; fabrication equipment, hair dressing equipment, bakery making project, electrical installations, knitting project equipment. All these are geared at skilling the youth in various Small and Medium Enterprises.
Today, Uganda has about 80% of its population under 30 years, representing a workforce of about 14 million people. However, this huge young population has posed a huge challenge to the economy due to the fact that most of it comprises unemployed people.
“We invite you and the general public to come ask any information about your savings and hold us accountable. We are open to scrutiny,” Byarugaba added.
Through the Customer Connect Week, the Fund has achieved greater mileage in terms of improved operational efficiencies, increased customer engagement and experience over the last three years.
The combination of these has led to higher levels of customer satisfaction and this has led to the growth of member contributions.
As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility programme, the NSSF has over the past years organised the annual Torch Awards, blood donation drives in partnership with Ministry of Health, the annual dental camp at Mulago Hospital, and the Kampala Hash 7 Hills Run to help rehabilitate UPE schools in Kampala, among others.
