NSSF Challenges Beneficiary Schools to Raise UGX 100M, Pledges Matching Funds.

By Philip Onyango

 

The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Managing Director, Patrick Ayota, has challenged schools that have benefited from the NSSF Kampala Hills Run to mobilize an additional UGX 100 million from their communities, saying the Fund will match the amount.

 

Ayota was speaking ahead of the 8th edition of the NSSF Kampala Hills Run scheduled for Sunday, 6th December 2026.

 

He said NSSF has broadened the initiative by involving local district leaders and headteachers, which has enabled the Fund to have a wider reach.

 

However, he noted that during school assessments, the Fund is only able to work within a limited envelope, which he described as just scratching the surface.

 

Ayota said to close the gap, NSSF wants to expand partnerships at community level. He challenged beneficiary schools, including Lira Modern and St. Mary’s, among others, to engage their old boys, old girls, village mates and friends of the school to raise at least UGX 100 million by 31st March.

 

He explained that NSSF and its partners will match the amount, bringing the total to UGX 200 million, which can then be used for additional works such as fencing or renovating another classroom block.

 

Ayota said the initiative will be run as an experiment to encourage contributions of as little as UGX 5,000 and UGX 10,000, noting that if 100 people contribute UGX 10,000 each, it already amounts to UGX 1 million. He said NSSF will provide an account where the contributions will be deposited for transparency.

 

The NSSF boss also called for inculcating a savings culture among primary school pupils.

 

He cited an example from his home village of Nyem Nyem in Tororo, where he said many people spend about UGX 2,000 on a calabash of malwa, three to four times a week, translating into UGX 24,000 to UGX 30,000 a month.

 

Ayota challenged parents to forgo two calabashes and save at least UGX 5,000 monthly for their children through the NSSF Smartlife Savings account.

 

He said Uganda has 9.1 million pupils in primary schools, and if just 10 percent, about one million pupils, save UGX 5,000 per month, it would translate into UGX 5 billion a month and UGX 60 billion a year. He said at the end of the year, a parent would have UGX 60,000 to support their child’s education.

 

He said this would be good for the student, the parent and the Fund.