The National Social Security Fund Uganda (NSSF) has launched a 60-day amnesty campaign giving defaulting employers an opportunity to clear outstanding social security contributions while receiving a 100 percent waiver on penalties.
The campaign, unveiled on Tuesday, will run from March 11 to May 11, 2026, offering employers a limited window to regularise their obligations before the Fund begins enforcement measures against non-compliant firms.
Speaking at the launch, Gerald Paul Kasaato said the initiative is intended to boost compliance while allowing employers to settle arrears without the burden of penalties.
“Today we are launching an Employer Amnesty Campaign. This campaign provides employers with a two-month window, from March 10, 2026 to May 11, 2026, to regularise their NSSF obligations,” Kasaato said.
Under the arrangement, employers who carry out a self-assessment, pay all outstanding contributions together with accrued interest, and formally apply for the amnesty will qualify for a full waiver on penalties.
Kasaato explained that the campaign targets three groups of employers: those with outstanding contribution arrears, those previously audited and issued settlement deeds, and those who have not yet registered with the Fund or enrolled their employees.
“Under this campaign, employers who take advantage of the amnesty will receive a 100 percent waiver of penalties,” he said.
Under the NSSF Act, employers must register with the Fund and remit contributions for all eligible employees. Section 10(1) of the law requires a standard contribution of 15 percent of an employee’s wages, with five percent deducted from the employee’s salary and the employer contributing the remaining ten percent.
However, compliance levels remain relatively low.
“Despite this legal requirement, our current compliance levels stand at about 47 percent, which means we still have significant room for improvement,” Kasaato noted.
Employers who fail to remit contributions normally face a 10 percent monthly penalty on outstanding balances. However, the law gives the Managing Director discretion to waive penalties in certain circumstances, which forms the basis of the amnesty campaign.
The Fund estimates that more than 28,000 employers out of about 113,000 registered employers could benefit from the initiative, while more than 100,000 employees may recover savings that were not previously remitted.
Financially, NSSF expects to collect about Shs30 billion during the two-month campaign and up to Shs164 billion in arrears by the end of 2026.
“Employers who fail to take advantage of this amnesty will face compliance audits, legal action and litigation costs in addition to their outstanding arrears,” Kasaato warned.
He urged employers to use the opportunity while it lasts, noting that compliance can also open business opportunities.
“This campaign presents an important opportunity for employers to regularise their NSSF obligations and benefit from a penalty waiver. Compliance also enables businesses to access opportunities that require an NSSF Clearance Certificate, which is often a prerequisite for doing business with the Government of Uganda,” he said.
Kasaato also highlighted the Fund’s financial growth, revealing that NSSF’s assets have risen to more than Shs30 trillion, serving about 3.4 million members and roughly 113,000 employers across the country.
“Your money is safe,” he reassured members, explaining that the Fund’s investments are diversified across fixed income, equities and real estate.
As of January 2026, NSSF’s investment portfolio consisted of about 79.2 percent in fixed income, 15 percent in equities and 5.8 percent in real estate.
The Deputy Managing Director added that the Fund aims to significantly grow its asset base under its long-term strategic plan, NSSF Vision 2035, which runs from 2025 to 2035.
“One of the main goals of Vision 2035 is to grow the Fund’s assets under management to UGX 50 trillion over the next decade,” he said.
