EDITOR—It is ironical that our MPs who make laws and decisions on our behalf are allowed to contribute to a private pension scheme, while the rest of us in formal employment are compelled to contribute to NSSF!

I believe if the MPs also had their pension funds managed by NSSF they would make wiser decisions in matters concerning the management of our funds that the NSSF controls.

I believe MPs can only be true representatives of ‘the people’ if they are fully subject to the same conditions as ‘the people’. Alternatively, companies with internal private pension funds should be allowed to opt out of contributing to NSSF like the MPs have so wisely (or selfishly) done.

Dorcas Konso
Kampala

EDITOR—Public servants and all employees who contribute to the national Social Security Fund (NSSF) are taken for granted and abused with impunity! The NSSF has reeled from scandal to scandal but employees and employers are by law compelled to contribute their hard-earned money to this scandal-riddled institution which seems to be the realm of kleptocrats!

Now, it is supremely revealing that the MPs who decide how much should be deducted from our salaries and where we must save our pension benefits have a parallel saving scheme! They make the laws, why don’t they subject themselves to the same laws? Why don’t they also save with NSSF?

The NSSF is a house on fire and the MPs ought to be ashamed of themselves to force the people they represent to burn to cinders in the burning house! But of course the word shame does not seem to exist in the vocabulary of politicians. Money seems to be all that matters and when it comes to money, there is no opposition and no NRM MPs! Their scheme started only 2006 and 330 MPs have already forked in sh23b!

Any right-thinking member of society should understand what that means! Look at the composition of the board members! Why is the NSSF board clogged with people who do not save a penny there? Can the Government appoint board members to, for example, Stanbic Bank or Roko Construction? They cannot because they have no authority.

The only reason MPs force us to save at a loss is because we are dumb! Saving for pension is fantastic but saving with NSSF is tragic. Those who know it and have the power have decided to make different laws for themselves! The MPs should also save with NSSF or let it be disbanded.

This behaviour is a clear demonstration that politicians have their own agenda for personal survival and what happens to their so-called constituents is none of their business. They know we are making losses in NSSF but since they are comfortable that is fine!

What is so difficult to change the law and require employees and employers to save with a scheme of their choice that is credible? We will continue suffering as politicians fool us around! Who cares?

James Alimanya
Kampala