NSSF boss suspension illegal, lawyer tells court

KAMPALA - Deputy managing director of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), Geraldine Ssali, was illegally suspended by the fund's board, her lawyer has told court.

Rashid Semambo, who is representing Ssali, told court presided over by Justice Stephen Musota that Ssali was suspended on March 14 after she had filed an application for temporary injunction and interim order in a bid to block the decision of sending her on forced leave.

"After filing the applications before court, the Fund's board and its directors purportedly convened a hurried board meeting in which they allegedly suspended Ssali which is illegal and improper," he argued.

According to court documents, in a letter dated March 9, the NSSF Board of Directors directed Ssali to go on forced leave, which she slammed on grounds that it was not justified.

Ssali went to court to quash the forced leave. She also applied for an interim order, which she was granted, blocking the NSSF board and management from sending her on forced leave.

Semambo argues that since then, the respondents have not complied with the court order, but have instead denied Ssali access to her office.

He also said Ssali has never been served with the alleged suspension.

Ssali has since petitioned court to order her supervisors to pay sh1b fine and compensation for alleged contempt of court.

She wants the NSSF board chairperson, Patrick Kaberenge, the managing director, Richard Byarugaba, jointly with the NSSF to pay the fine and compensation.

In the application filed through KM Advocates and Solicitors, Ssali wants court to declare that the trio disobeyed a court order that reportedly quashed the board's decision to deny her access to office.