The National Social Security Fund Uganda (NSSF) has launched a 60-day amnesty campaign allowing defaulting employers to settle outstanding social security contributions and receive a 100 percent waiver on penalties.
The campaign, launched on Tuesday, will run from March 11 to May 11, 2026, giving 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, Deputy Managing Director of NSSF, said the initiative is aimed at improving compliance while giving employers an opportunity to clear 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 campaign, employers who conduct a self-assessment, pay outstanding contributions and accrued interest, and formally apply for amnesty will qualify for a full waiver on penalties.
According to Kasaato, the amnesty applies to three categories of employers: those with outstanding contribution arrears, those previously audited and issued settlement deeds, and employers 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 are required to register with the Fund and remit contributions for all employees. Section 10(1) of the law requires a standard contribution of 15 percent of an employee’s wages, with 5 percent deducted from the employee and the employer contributing the remaining 10 percent.
However, compliance remains 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.
Failure to remit contributions attracts a 10 percent monthly penalty on outstanding balances, but the law gives the Managing Director discretion to waive penalties under specific circumstances.
Kasaato said the Fund expects the amnesty to benefit more than 28,000 employers out of approximately 113,000 registered employers nationwide, while helping more than 100,000 employees recover unremitted savings.
Financially, the Fund projects to collect around UGX 30 billion during the two-month campaign and up to UGX 164 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,” he warned.
He therefore encouraged employers to utilise the opportunity while it lasts. “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,” Kasaato said.
Kasaato also used the event to highlight the Fund’s growth and financial stability. He said NSSF’s assets have grown to more than UGX 30 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, the investment portfolio was allocated at about 79.2 percent in fixed income, 15 percent in equities and 5.8 percent in real estate.
Kasaato said the diversified investment strategy allows the Fund to protect and sustainably grow members’ savings as it pursues its long-term strategy under Vision 2035, a ten-year plan running 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.