By: Ismael Kasooha
Dar es Salaam
The Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Nabbanja Robinah has held bilateral talks with the director General of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) of Tanzania Masha John Mshoba and discussed a wide range of issues.

Nabbanja is in Tanzania to represent H.E the President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at the ongoing Africa Heads of State Energy Summit.   The meeting took place in Dar es Salaam at Hotel Johari Rotana and was attended by Uganda’s High Commissioner to the People’s Republic of Tanzania Col. (Rtd) Fred Mwesigye and other technical staff from both countries.

The Premier Robinah Nabbanja (left) shaking hands with the Director General NSSF Tanzania after the bilateral meeting in Dar es Salaam on Monday

Nabbanja briefed the Director General that Uganda wants to benchmark the progress of NSSF in Tanzania to inform Uganda on how best they can improve the fund.  “We are here to benchmark how NSSF works here in Tanzania so that we can also improve our fund and make use of it as an economy,” said Nabbanja.

Nabbanja said that Uganda’s NSSF portfolio has grown and now the country needs to establish how the Government of Tanzania operates with the Fund.   “Our fund is estimated to be shs.22 trillion and this is still growing and we are making strategies on how improve it further,” said Nabbanja.

Masha John Mshomba, the Director General NSSF Tanzania, said that Tanzania operates both the public Social Security Fund (PSSF) for public servants and National Social Security Fund (NSSF) for the private sector employees.  “We have two funds in Tanzania and we use both for the developmental projects in the country,” said Masha.

Masha said that Tanzania uses the funds from NSSF and PSSF to fund infrastructural projects in the country but later pays back the money.  He added that NSSF Tanzania plays a great role in the provision of money to fund different projects in the country instead of borrowing from foreign partners.  He gave an example where they even entered into a partnership with government and they constructed a toll-bridge using over 340bn Tanzanian Shillings where NSSF contributed 60% of the money and government added 40%.

“When such projects are funded, NSSF first manages the project to recoup their money plus interest then later it reverts to government,” said Masha.  He briefed the Premier and the team that they have made several reforms in the management of the Fund that allows both the private sector and public sector to contribute to the fund.

The Prime Minister is leading the Ugandan Delegation that includes the Minister of State for Energy Okasai Opolot, the PS Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development Irene Batebe among others.

The Africa Heads of State Energy Summit aims to strengthen collective efforts in addressing Africa’s energy challenges while adopting the Dar es Salaam declaration to ensure reliable, affordable and sustainable energy across the continent.
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