NSSF Partners with Interswitch to Onboard 100,000 New Savers on Smartlife Flexi

The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) has announced a strategic partnership with Interswitch Group, one of Africa’s leading digital payment and e-commerce companies, to expand access to social security services through digital financial agents.

The collaboration seeks to onboard over 100,000 new voluntary savers onto the Fund’s SmartLife Flexi product via Interswitch’s Quickteller agent network. The announcement was made during the ongoing #NSSFKukyalo engagement at the Workers’ House in Kampala on Wednesday.

NSSF Managing Director Patrick Ayota said the partnership marks a major step toward the Fund’s goal of expanding social security coverage to 50% of Uganda’s workforce by 2035—representing over 15 million people. “Guided by our mandate to provide social security services to all eligible Ugandans, one of the key pillars of this strategy is to increase coverage to 50% of the workforce by 2035,” said Ayota. “We will achieve this by creating both the capacity and willingness to save.”

Ayota reported that NSSF’s mandatory business remains strong, with assets under management exceeding UGX 26 trillion, driven by consistent member contributions and sound investment decisions. He also highlighted strong growth on the voluntary side through SmartLife Flexi, the Fund’s flexible, goal-based savings product launched less than a year ago.

“Today, the total SmartLife Flexi portfolio stands at UGX 52 billion, with 49,000 members and 250,000 transactions,” Ayota revealed. “Our members are saving for goals such as investment, financial independence, emergencies, housing, and education.”

He noted that NSSF has already started disbursing benefits to members. “In just three months, we have paid out UGX 3 billion in benefits to savers who required urgent access. This should reassure anyone who believes accessing their savings is cumbersome—it is not. Our processes are efficient, transparent, and responsive,” Ayota said.

According to Ayota, the new partnership with Interswitch will make saving easier and more accessible to Ugandans, particularly those working in the informal sector, who often lack access to formal financial systems.

“Through this collaboration, we aim to extend social security services to more Ugandans via digital financial agents,” he explained. “Ugandans can now enrol and make SmartLife Flexi contributions anytime, anywhere, securely and conveniently at their nearest Quickteller agent. This collaboration also enables companies to make their mandatory NSSF contributions using the same network.”

He added that the move builds on earlier partnerships with telecoms and commercial banks, which made NSSF services available via mobile and online platforms. “However, there remains a big number of people who prefer a human interface, and yet our 21 branches might not be within their proximity. Quickteller agents are the bridge to the informal economy,” Ayota noted.

The partnership also comes amid a growing cash-based economy, with the Bank of Uganda’s June 2025 report showing that the value of currency in circulation increased from UGX 8.21 trillion in FY2023/24 to UGX 8.98 trillion—a 9% rise—even as digital transactions continue to expand.

“This partnership will ease how our members and new savers onboard onto SmartLife Flexi and make contributions to their accounts using digital payment channels they already trust,” Ayota added. “It’s about meeting Ugandans where they are, digitally and physically.”

Under the partnership, customers can register for SmartLife Flexi free of charge at any nearby Quickteller agent. The minimum initial deposit is UGX 10,000, with affordable transaction rates for subsequent contributions. Employers can also remit their mandatory contributions through the same network.

Speaking at the launch, Interswitch Uganda Country General Manager, Moris Seguya, said the partnership reinforces both institutions’ shared commitment to deepening financial inclusion and empowering everyday Ugandans.

“We are proud to officially announce this partnership between Interswitch and NSSF—a collaboration designed to empower Ugandans with greater access to savings and investment opportunities,” said Seguya. “Through Quickteller, we provide the digital infrastructure and payment channels that make enrollment and saving simple, fast, and reliable.”

Seguya noted that Interswitch’s Quickteller network, with more than 20,000 agents nationwide, offers an unmatched footprint that extends formal financial services into every corner of Uganda. “In Uganda, over 80% of the population works in the informal sector where access to formal savings and investment opportunities remains limited,” he said. “With SmartLife Flexi, workers can now save as little as UGX 5,000 per day and make deposits from anywhere in the country.”

He explained that Interswitch’s agents operate in everyday community outlets—from dukas to mini-shops—ensuring that financial services are literally within arm’s reach.

The Quickteller Agent Network provides an extensive payment reach with over 20,000 agents nationwide (primarily concentrated in the Central region), offering free registration and enrollment but charging standard fees for subsequent transactions.

Simultaneously, the SmartLife Flexi product has achieved significant success, growing its portfolio to UGX 52 billion across 49,000 members who primarily save for investment, financial independence, and education.