The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Uganda has unveiled a new partnership with Interswitch Group, a leading African digital payments and e-commerce company, to bring social security services closer to more Ugandans through the Quickteller agent network.
The collaboration, launched in Kampala, is targeting the enrolment of over 100,000 new voluntary savers under the NSSF SmartLife Flexi product — a flexible savings plan that allows users to save according to their personal goals and schedules, while earning competitive monthly returns accrued daily.
According to NSSF Managing Director, Patrick Ayota, this initiative is a major step in the Fund’s long-term plan to broaden social security coverage across Uganda.
“One of the key pillars of our new 10-year strategic direction, informed by our mandate to provide social security services to all eligible Ugandans, is to increase national social security coverage to 50% of Uganda’s workforce by 2035, representing over 15 million people,” he said.
Ayota explained that while NSSF has previously worked with telecoms and banks to make digital remittances easier, many Ugandans still prefer face-to-face service — something the 21 NSSF branches alone cannot provide.
“We have in the past partnered with telecoms and commercial banks, this enabled us to avail all our services on USSD, mobile and online, and provided convenience for remittances of contributions. 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.”
He added that the partnership aligns with efforts to make saving simpler in an increasingly cash-driven economy.
According to the Bank of Uganda’s June 2025 report, the value of currency in circulation rose from UGX 8.21 trillion in FY2023/24 to UGX 8.98 trillion by June 2025 — a 9% increase — despite growth in digital transactions.
“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, such as Quickteller. It’s about meeting Ugandans where they are, digitally and physically,” Ayota added.
Through this collaboration, individuals can now register for SmartLife Flexi at any Quickteller agent free of charge. The minimum starting deposit is UGX 10,000, with subsequent contributions made at affordable transaction rates. Employers can also remit mandatory contributions via the same network for added convenience.
Interswitch Country General Manager, Moris Seguya, noted that the move aligns with the company’s mission to expand financial inclusion across Uganda.
“This partnership is pivotal to our primary objectives at Interswitch Group, we are driven by the need to see every Ugandan access financial services easily and affordably. With over 20,000 agents spread across the country, Quickteller is strategically placed to serve everyone, especially Ugandans in the informal sector.”
He emphasized that the partnership will particularly benefit informal sector workers — who make up about 80% of Uganda’s workforce — by offering them safe, convenient, and nearby access to saving options.
“Today, about 80% of our population is employed in the informal sector where benefits to do with savings are limited. Partnering with NSSF allows us to ensure that Smartlife customers, especially those in the informal sector, can deposit their savings at the Quickteller agents within their neighborhood, making saving easy and convenient. In addition, our systems, which are reviewed by the regulator, Bank of Uganda on a regular basis, are secure and robust to ensure safety of our customer’s transactions,” he added.
For agents like Flavia Namutamba, based in Kampala, the development is timely and impactful.
“Some people always inquire whether they can register or send money to their NSSF accounts through Quickteller since we are located nearer to them. This solution helps us bridge this gap in the market,” she said.
The partnership is expected to not only enhance convenience for savers but also significantly increase national social security penetration by extending NSSF’s reach into communities previously underserved by formal financial institutions.