News
Insurance Regulatory Authority ordered to table staff contracts
According to sources, one contract has already expired, while 16 others have six months remaining before they expire, after which the holders are expected to apply for renewal.
Insurance Regulatory Authority ordered to table staff contracts
By: Dedan Kimathi, Journalist @New Vision
__________________
The Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) has been ordered to table the employment contracts of all its staff.
According to sources, one contract has already expired, while 16 others have six months remaining before they expire, after which the holders are expected to apply for renewal.
The directive was issued by the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) chairperson, Muwadda Nkunyingi, on Monday, July 27, 2026.
This was during a meeting with IRA officials led by acting chief executive officer (CEO) Dr Protazio Sande.
Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Protazio Sande (man)and Director Legal Affairs Francesca Kakooza (lady) leave after appearing before COSASE
“To appreciate your position, we want copies of all those contracts for all the staff,” Nkunyingi ruled.
The move followed queries by several lawmakers regarding Sande’s appointment. He assumed the role on June 1 this year after the expiration of his predecessor Ibrahim Lubega Kadunabbi’s final contract a day earlier.
Before his promotion, he had served as Director of Strategy and Market Development since 2017.
Cross-examination
Questions arose after Sande told the committee that he had been appointed by the Permanent Secretary/Secretary to the Treasury (PSST), Ramathan Ggoobi, who he said was acting as finance minister because Cabinet had not yet been constituted.
“He signed as Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Authority. But the information I have or had at that time was that the permanent secretaries had been designated to act as Ministers. It is based on that information,” he explained.
Section 20 of the Insurance Act, Cap 191, provides that: “The Authority shall have a Chief Executive Officer who shall be appointed by the Minister on the recommendation of the Board on terms and conditions specified in his or her instrument of appointment."
Before his promotion, he had served as Director of Strategy and Market Development since 2017.
Cross-examination
Questions arose after Sande told the committee that he had been appointed by the Permanent Secretary/Secretary to the Treasury (PSST), Ramathan Ggoobi, who he said was acting as finance minister because Cabinet had not yet been constituted.
“He signed as Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Authority. But the information I have or had at that time was that the permanent secretaries had been designated to act as Ministers. It is based on that information,” he explained.
Section 20 of the Insurance Act, Cap 191, provides that: “The Authority shall have a Chief Executive Officer who shall be appointed by the Minister on the recommendation of the Board on terms and conditions specified in his or her instrument of appointment."
However, upon cross-examination by the committee chairperson, it emerged that Sande had not brought the instrument of appointment or the board meeting minutes to support his claims.
The board is chaired by Keto Nyapendi, with Grace Mutebile serving as vice chairperson.
Other members include Moses Kaggwa, who represents the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED); Josephine Ossiya for the Capital Markets Authority (CMA); Anthony Nsubuga of the Uganda Retirement Benefits Regulatory Authority (URBRA); Sulaiman Ddumba of the Insurance Training College; Kenneth Akili of the Ministry of Health.
Calls for adjournment
MPs, including Dr Timothy Batuwa Lusala (Jinja South Division, NUP), Bruce Balaba Kabaasa (Rubanda West, NRM) and Robert Ssekitoleko (Bamunanika County, NUP), said the documents were necessary before the meeting could proceed.
“We want to know, in which position are you acting? Are you the accounting officer or acting CEO or acting in both? That information is not coming out clearly,” Batuwa probed.
Adding his voice, Balaba said: “The Accounting Officer has a special instrument of appointment for a given financial year. On that one, whether you are acting CEO or what, the accounting officer is substantive, and so we are asking, do you have an appointment as the accounting officer of the Insurance Regulatory Authority?”
What surprised MPs even more was that, while Sande denied being appointed as the accounting officer, the director of legal affairs, Francesca Kakooza, maintained otherwise.
The board is chaired by Keto Nyapendi, with Grace Mutebile serving as vice chairperson.
Other members include Moses Kaggwa, who represents the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED); Josephine Ossiya for the Capital Markets Authority (CMA); Anthony Nsubuga of the Uganda Retirement Benefits Regulatory Authority (URBRA); Sulaiman Ddumba of the Insurance Training College; Kenneth Akili of the Ministry of Health.
Calls for adjournment
MPs, including Dr Timothy Batuwa Lusala (Jinja South Division, NUP), Bruce Balaba Kabaasa (Rubanda West, NRM) and Robert Ssekitoleko (Bamunanika County, NUP), said the documents were necessary before the meeting could proceed.
“We want to know, in which position are you acting? Are you the accounting officer or acting CEO or acting in both? That information is not coming out clearly,” Batuwa probed.
Adding his voice, Balaba said: “The Accounting Officer has a special instrument of appointment for a given financial year. On that one, whether you are acting CEO or what, the accounting officer is substantive, and so we are asking, do you have an appointment as the accounting officer of the Insurance Regulatory Authority?”
What surprised MPs even more was that, while Sande denied being appointed as the accounting officer, the director of legal affairs, Francesca Kakooza, maintained otherwise.