Richard Byarugaba, the former Managing Director of the National Social Security Fund (Uganda), has applied for the position of Executive Director Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA).
He is competing with over 40 individuals who have applied for the coveted position, following the recent dismissal of Dorothy Kisaka in the wake of the Kiteezi landfill tragedy.
The vacancy has attracted a wide range of professionals, all aiming to take on the critical role of managing the capital city.
The list of applicants includes prominent figures from various sectors, among them Sydney Asubo, who previously served as head of the Financial Intelligence Authority, acting ED, Frank Rusa and Robert Kabushenga, former Vision Group CEO.
Kisaka was removed from office following public backlash over her management of the Kiteezi landfill, where mismanagement led to the death of dozens of people.
Byarugaba was the longest-serving MD of NSSF and had a stellar record of growing the Fund’s size to Shs 18 trillion and to 2 million members.
Byarugaba was removed from office in 2023 after clashing with his supervising Minister (Gender) Hon Betty Amongi.
It’s alleged that Amongi demanded from NSSF Shs 6bn for her pet projects, a request Byarugaba rejected.
During Byarugaba’s reign, (2012 to 2021), NSSF consistently offered an interest to members of at least 10%, with the highest interest of 15% in 2018.
In 2022, the Fund declared an interest of 9.65%, partly as a result of SHS 626,098,945,132 it paid out as mid-term access benefits to members following the amendment of the NSSF Act in January 2022.
Byarugaba held various positions over the years, with the majority in Uganda’s banking sector. He started as a banking officer at Standard Chartered Uganda (Stanchart), in 1983.
In 2008, when Global Trust Bank (Uganda) was established, the new owners appointed Byarugaba as managing director of the newly created bank.
He attended Makerere University, Uganda’s oldest public institution of tertiary education, graduating with a degree in statistics and economics.
He is a qualified accountant with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants of the United Kingdom (UK). He also holds a diploma in management from Henley Management College, also in the UK.
The competition for the KCAA MD position is expected to be intense, as applicants are screened based on their qualifications, leadership records, and vision for Kampala’s future.
With the interviews being conducted by the Public Service Commission, the public eagerly awaits the announcement of the new Executive Director, who will need to immediately address the fallout from the landfill crisis while positioning the city for long-term growth and sustainable urban development.
