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KAMPALA - 297 former employees from telecommunications companies are to receive pension support from the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance.

In a bid to prioritize the financial well-being of its retired workforce, the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance in a press release announced plans to provide pension support to 297 former employees of Uganda Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (UPTC), Uganda Post Limited (UPL), and Uganda Telecom Limited (UTL).

239 have been listed for gratuity arrears while 85 are for monthly pension.

Permanent Secretary Aminah Zawedde in the statement unveiled a comprehensive initiative aimed at addressing long-standing issues of gratuity arrears and pension payments for eligible pensioners.

“Permanent secretary, ministry of ICT and National Guidance informs the under-listed former employees of the Uganda Posts and Telecommunications Corporation, Uganda Post Limited, and Uganda Telecom Limited to report to the ministry for their gratuity arrears and pension payments,” the press release stated.

As each pensioner prepares for the verification process, they are urged to gather essential documentation to facilitate the timely disbursement of funds.

“Appointment letters, retrenchment letter, tin number, pension certificate, confirmation letter, OAG verification slip, letter of administration in case the beneficiary is deceased, bank account details, including bank statement for the past one month, national ID, any other relevant details or documents of this exercise,” the statement further indicated.

Furthermore, the inclusion of measures such as the requirement for bank account details and recent bank statements is required in handling the pension payments to ensure that payments are made directly to verified bank accounts to streamline the process and minimize the risk of errors or discrepancies.

As the verification process commences, eligible pensioners are encouraged to heed the ministry's call to appear before the verification team and submit the required documentation.

“This is to therefore invite the following underlisted pensioners to report to the ministry. The list of those to benefit is available on the ministry website: www.ict.go.ug. Only listed claimants should report to the ministry,” PS Zawedde said in the statement.

In 2021, the Cabinet approved a proposal put forth by the Ministry of ICT to initiate pension payments for former employees of the now-defunct Uganda Posts and Telecommunication Corporation.

Following the government's decision to merge the Uganda Posts and Telecommunication Corporation in 1997, several entities emerged from the restructuring, including Posta Uganda, Uganda Telecommunications Limited, Post Bank, and Uganda Communication Commission.

Although many former UPTC employees transitioned to the newly formed companies, issues arose regarding the payment of pensions. Despite the existence of an internal pension scheme, known as the Uganda Communication Employees Contributory Pension Scheme, successor companies claimed financial constraints prevented them from fulfilling pension obligations.

In response, former employees pursued legal recourse, filing a lawsuit in 2003 against the successor companies to demand pension payments. While the High Court ruled in favor of the employees, with exceptions for UCC and Post Bank, the companies appealed the decision.

In 2018, the Court of Appeal upheld the employees' claims, prompting Posta Uganda and Uganda Telecommunication to seek government intervention to fulfill their pension obligations.