Insurers are vowing to take on the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) until it is liberalized, in order to allow them access workers savings as smaller fund managers.

They are keen on taking over the handling the 828billion shillings in savings available with the N.S.S.F as of the latest audited results.

Last week the new board of N.S.S.F maintained that they are eager to see the N.S.S.F Act amended to allow them expand the products they handle to include health saving by the public.

The NSSF Managing Director David Chandi Jamwa, also maintained that the Fund is still weak to warrant liberalizing it, citing the need to improve personnel and raise savings from the public among others.

But emerging from a two-day retreat in Jinja, Insurance firms numbering 19 and grouped under the Uganda Insurers Association declared that they are going to intensify lobbying government and parliament to have the NSSF monopoly dismantled.

The Chairman of UIA Solomon Rubondo says that plans by the NSSF to revitalize the Nsimbe Housing Project, and build 5,000 housing units as well as 9 commercial buildings contained in the 5 year 2007-2012 NSSF Strategic Plan, would hold workers’ savings much longer.

The Insurers claim they are now designing micro health and education products for average income earners.

The NSSF Managing Director Jamwa, says they will hit 1 Trillion shillings in workers’ savings by the 1 st quarter of 2008. He insists that Insurers with 1000billion shillings in premium are not able to give better returns to savers; hence the need by NSSF to invest in real estate.

The ongoing uncertainty in Kisekka market may soon erupt into another round of violent demonstrations as traders seek ownership of the market. This follows long days of waiting for confirmatory communication from the ministry of local government, which is not forthcoming.

It is about a month now since Kisekka market erupted into violent demonstrations as vendors put up a case for ownership of the market. This followed indications that the market was about to be taken over by a private developer – Rhino investments.

However The President later assured these traders, that Kisekka market was theirs to develop and own. Nevertheless, the traders continue pushing for written confirmation as proof that there will be no foul play.

They assert that the Ministry of local government assured them of such a document in a week’s time, which is now long overdue, making them re-consider violence.

The vendors have organized themselves into a company, ‘Nakivubo Road Old Kampala Kisekka Market Market Vendors Limited,’ to run the market and put up new structures. Nevertheless, all this is on hold as uncertainty prevails.

In a phone interview however, the Minister of local government, Maj. General Kahinda Otafire advised the traders, amidst hearty laughter, to read the law on city lands for an immediate solution to their worries.

He was not willing to discuss the issue beyond this. Kisekka market is one of the oldest city markets, and was started by the traders.

Cardinal Emmanuel Wamala has appealed to the catholic community to evaluate their spiritual strength as the catholic calendar of the year comes to an end.

The appeal was contained in his message while closing a one week retreat at St. Joseph Catholic Church Ndeeba where he confirmed over 500 people.

The calendar year for the catholic faith will be come to an end in the next 6 days and the Head of the Catholic church in Uganda , Cardinal Emmanuel Wamala is challenging Catholics to review their spiritual strength.

Cardinal Wamala who was closing a one week retreat at St Joseph catholic church in Ndeeba attended by hundreds of faithfuls, said the corruption is widespread in the country.

He regretted that people only turn to God when they are in problems. The highlight of the retreat included the confirmation of 510 people who also received their first holy communion.

The Forum for Democratic Change, President, Rtd. Col. Kizza Besigye, may lose his seat as the party embarks on preparations to hold fresh elections for party leaders.

Besigye, who has served for only two years as party President, says this is being done in the interest of the party. He was addressing a press briefing at the party headquarters in Najjanankumbi.

FDC party president, Dr. Kizza Besigye says the elections to fill party positions starting from the grass root level, were supposed to have kicked off this month, but were postponed due to logistical problems.

He says the elections will be at all levels and positions, including that of the party Presidency. Besigye was elected as party President in October 2005 and is officially supposed to leave in 2010.

Two years down the road however, the need has arisen for another round of elections, which leaves Besigye’s political career quite speculative.

He asserts that he will support whoever may be chosen to take over him, but will not hesitate to lead the party if re-elected.

The elections will start with that of special interest groups like the youth and women, in the Eastern part of the country before spreading elsewhere. Only FDC cardholders will be in position to elect or stand for elections.

Dr. Kizza Besigye has been away for one and a half months in which he met FDC diehards and well-wishers living in Diaspora.

His tour included meeting chapters in the USA and UK , in cities like San Francisco , New York , Washington , and Boston . He among other things updated them on the happenings back home, the FDC struggles and also held discussions on the party’s funding.

As Muslims world over celebrate Idd el Fitri marking the end of the Holy month of Ramathan, Muslim leaders are worried that their folk may continue to survive in poverty.

Addressing throngs of Muslims that turned up for the Idd-el-Fitri prayers at Masaka Main Mosque square, Masaka Assistant Chief Administrative officer Yusuf Senteza warned that Muslims will remain backward if the continue shunning government development programs.

He cites the Community led HIV/AIDS Initiatives (CHAI) funds that closed without any Muslim groups registering to benefit from the fund. He casts doubt that Muslims will benefit from the Bonna bagaggawale program if they don’t change their attitude towards government programs.

The district Kadhi Sheikh Huzairu Kiruuta cautioned Musliims against celebrating the day in places that will taint their fast. He urges Muslims to not to turn up for the various musical shows that have been organized for the day.

To Muslims, Idd –el- Fitri is a day for feasting, but for vendors it was a time to make some quick money though their clientele largely lay among the young faithfuls that turned up for the prayers.