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THE STATUS OF SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEMS IN UGANDA: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

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  • Development Research and Training (DRT)

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This publication addresses the situation in Uganda and provides a comprehensive presentation of the strength and weaknesses of the Ugandan social security systems. It gives an insight into the development and situation of both formal and informal security systems in Uganda and analyses the different available options as well as the remaining gaps
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... The societal structure of ethnic nationalities in pre-colonial Uganda was based on mutual aid assistance run on the values of social cohesion, altruism and reciprocity aimed at communal wellbeing (Stephen and Duma 1995). Social protection in precolonial Africa was characterised by mutual community support, where extended family, clans and heterogenous communities formed part of these groups (Bukuluki and Mubiru 2014). This was the case in Uganda as well, where traditional social security frameworks existed before colonial times (Kasente et al. 2002). ...
... This was the case in Uganda as well, where traditional social security frameworks existed before colonial times (Kasente et al. 2002). The pre-colonial social welfare framework within communities that fell into pre-colonial Uganda was intended to extend support to the extremely vulnerable within family, clan-oriented and communal structures (Bukuluki and Mubiru 2014). ...
... Notably, the colonial epoch further witnessed the import of the colonial social welfare structure, which at the time was exclusively for colonial expatriates (Devereux 2017). Bukuluki and Mubiru (2014) observe that its fundamental legal structures were enmeshed with colonial policy interests and objectives. The exclusion of Africans from the colonial social security schemes was mainly an extension of discriminatory policy approaches by the colonial governments where social assistance for African majorities was not included (Kaseke 2003). ...
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... At the same time, governance and regulation continue to affect the effectiveness and efficiency of the national pension system and warrants further reforms. Bukuluki and Mubiru (2014) Investigated on the status of social security systems in Uganda; challenges and opportunities. The study findings revealed that Uganda has a multi-tier pension system model encompassing contributory social insurance, non-contributory direct income support and voluntary private pension schemes. ...
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... Thirdly, most civil servants fail to save for retirement for confidence in state pensions. The philosophy that the government will take care of retired civil servants (state pension) bars many from planning for their retirement (Matsiko, 2016;Bukuluki & Mubiru, 2014). Unfortunately, International Labor Organization (2017:74) noted that less than 20% of persons above retirement age survive on pensions, which benefits are too low to provide adequate incomes for older persons. ...
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