By KT Reporter
The informal sector will be able to access social security services through an additional 22,000 service points.
The Fund on Wednesday announced a strategic partnership with InterSwitch meant to extend social security services to more Ugandans through Digital Financial Agents, to onboard over 100,000 new voluntary savers onto the Fund’s Smartlife Flexi product via Interswitch’s Quickteller agent network.
Speaking during the partnership launch in Kampala, NSSF Managing Director Patrick Ayota said the move is part of the Fund’s broader Vision 2035 to extend social security coverage to at least 50 percent of Uganda’s working population.
“As you are aware, we recently unveiled our 10-year Strategic Plan, Vision 2035. Guided by our mandate to provide social security services to all eligible Ugandans, one of the key pillars of this strategy is to increase social security coverage to 50% of Ugandans,” he said.
He adds that this is a milestone in the Fund’s effort to make saving easier and more accessible for all Ugandans, especially those in rural and informal sectors.
“Today is a very special day as we unveil a strategic partnership that will be very instrumental in driving social security coverage,” Ayota said. “Our goal under Vision 2035 is to increase coverage from the current 3.2 million members to at least 10 to 15 million people by 2035.”
According to Ayota, Uganda’s total working-age population stands at about 25.4 million people, yet less than four million are currently registered with NSSF. This means that a large section of the population, mostly informal workers, remains excluded from social security benefits. To bridge this gap, NSSF is focusing on creating capacity and willingness to save. This is being done through products like Smart Life Flexi, Hi-Innovator, among other programs.
“Partnerships are very critical for building an ecosystem that makes social security services available everywhere,” Ayota said. “In the past, we worked with telecom companies and banks to offer our services online and on mobile. However, many people still prefer human interaction, and our 21 branches cannot serve everyone effectively. This is where InterSwitch comes in.”
Through this collaboration, Ugandans will now be able to register for NSSF’s Smart Life Flexi product, make voluntary contributions, and even pay company remittances through their nearest Quickteller agent. “This means NSSF is now in your village,” Ayota said, adding in several local languages that the Fund is now “right where you are.”
InterSwitch Uganda’s Country General Manager, Morris Seguya said the partnership is designed to give ordinary Ugandans better access to savings and investment opportunities using digital tools they already understand and trust.
“Over 80 percent of Uganda’s population works in the informal sector, where access to structured savings and investment opportunities is limited,” Seguya explained. “This partnership directly addresses that gap by combining NSSF’s Smart Life product with our Quickteller digital payment network.”
Through this system, members can save as little as UGX 5,000 per day and make deposits at any nearby Quickteller agent, many of whom operate small shops and community outlets across towns and villages. “InterSwitch currently has over 20,000 Quickteller agents spread across the country, covering both urban and rural areas,” Seguya said. “This means that financial services are now literally within arm’s reach of everyone.”
He added that the partnership reflects InterSwitch’s commitment to democratizing access to digital financial services and promoting inclusion, trust, and empowerment for everyday Ugandans. “The service is not only affordable but also highly accessible,” he said. “Together with NSSF, we are turning financial security from a privilege into a possibility for all.”
The Smart Life Flexi savings platform is designed for flexibility and ease of use. Savers can choose how often to make contributions daily, weekly, or monthly, depending on their income patterns. Registration requires a national ID-linked phone number to ensure data accuracy and compliance with Know Your Customer (KYC) standards. NSSF officials explained that even those without email addresses can register, provided they have valid phone numbers.
All transactions are protected under InterSwitch’s digital security systems, which are regularly audited and certified by the Bank of Uganda. “Our systems are tested every three months to ensure compliance with national security standards,” Seguya said. “We have also deployed tools like our Proactive Cloud Manager to monitor transactions in real time, guaranteeing that customers’ money remains safe.”
The NSSF-InterSwitch partnership marks another step in Uganda’s broader push for financial inclusion and digital transformation. By extending services through community-based agents, the Fund is reducing the physical and psychological barriers that have kept millions of informal workers outside formal saving systems.
Ayota emphasized that the initiative will help end the common excuse that “I can’t save because there’s no NSSF branch near me.” “With 22,000 additional service points, everyone now has an opportunity to save and secure their future,” he said. “No one should be left behind.”
The new service is expected to particularly benefit market vendors, small business owners, boda boda riders, and self-employed individuals who have long lacked convenient access to formal saving schemes. “This partnership is not just about technology, it’s about inclusion and dignity,” Ayota concluded. “We are making it possible for every Ugandan, wherever they are, to plan for a better and more secure tomorrow.”
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