Police arrest woman over fraud at NSSF

By Charles Etukuri

The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) has arrested a woman who attempted to claim fraudulently benefits for a person who was still alive.

Maurine Atemo was arrested by Police after a verification process by the NSSF found out that the person she had declared dead was still alive.

Barbara Arimi, the NSSF Head of Marketing and Communication told the Sunday Vision that the NSSF involved police once their officers had detected fraud.

“She submitted her paper claiming benefits for her cousin who she claimed was dead. She had a forged letter from her Cousins employer declaring she was dead, forged death certificate and also a letter purportedly written by the Administrator General declaring that she was the administrator of her ‘late’ cousin’s estate,” Arimi said.

She said that the NSSF tried to verify her claim by calling her cousin’s employer who confirmed that the person who had been declared dead was alive and still working with them.

‘We contacted her, and she was also shocked and surprised. It was then that we decided to involve police in the investigations because this was a clear case of fraud,” Arimi added.

Arimi further said that Atemo was arrested and later taken to the Criminal Investigations And Intelligence Unit but was later given a police bond.

“Of course she still has to report as investigations continue,” Arimi said.

Asked what the procedure was for one to claim benefits for a deceased relative, Arimi said all one needed was a letter from the employer, a death certificate and a letter from the Administrator General indicating that the person claiming the money was the administrator of the deceased’s estate.

“NSSF would like to reassure its members that their savings are safe, and the Fund has put in place measures to ensure the actual beneficiaries are paid the money when they are eligible. Some of the measures include partnering with Government and private entities for validation of information submitted during benefits processing,” Arimi said.

She said that the Fund recently signed an MOU with Uganda Registration Services Bureau to promote information sharing.

“Under this partnership, NSSF will have access to Company information and bio data for the Funds members including information on next of kin among others. This move is expected to bridge the information gap thereby enabling NSSF improve service delivery to its members especially in regards to compliance and benefits processing,” Arimi added.

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