Usher Wilson Owere-Four Decades of Saving with NSSF
Tuesday, July 28 2026 12:11 pm
By Julius Businge, Financial Journalist
At 66, Usher Wilson Owere speaks with the calm assurance of a man who has lived deliberately. A former Chairperson of the National Organisation of Trade Unions and a lifelong advocate for workers’ rights, Owere’s story is also the story of quiet discipline, patience, and belief in the power of long-term saving.
Long before saving became fashionable or widely trusted, he chose consistency. For four decades, he has saved continuously with the National Social Security Fund, retiring at 55, accessing his benefits, and yet continuing to save to secure the future even further.
“Saving is not deprivation; it is protection for tomorrow,” Owere says.
Owere began his working life before NSSF was established in 1985. When the Fund was introduced, many workers were skeptical. Trust in institutions was fragile, wages were low, and daily needs often felt more urgent than distant retirement. But Owere saw saving differently. He understood it not as deprivation, but as protection.
Working his way up from an assistant security officer to a senior operations officer at the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority, he experienced firsthand how small, consistent contributions could grow alongside a career. When he started, his salary stood at just a few thousand shillings. Saving was difficult, but he stayed the course. As his income grew through union-led advocacy for better pay, his contributions to NSSF grew as well. The habit was already formed.
“Start small, but start now; discipline grows with time,” he advises.
Learning discipline
Owere traces his saving discipline to his upbringing. Raised by his grandfathers, he learned early that wealth is built patiently. Watching cattle multiply over time taught him that value grows when you allow it to mature. That lesson followed him into the workplace, where he realized that consuming everything today leaves nothing for tomorrow.
Marriage and family reinforced that discipline. With a supportive wife and a shared vision, saving became a family value rather than an individual sacrifice. Over the years, that mindset helped him raise seven children, all of whom have completed university education, with one still finishing. Education, he believes, is one of the most meaningful returns on long-term planning.
“Consistency matters more than the size of the contribution,” Owere adds.
Union leadership
Saving did not happen in isolation from Owere’s public life. As a union leader, he was deeply involved in improving workers’ welfare. His leadership roles at the Civil Aviation Authority and later as Chairperson of the Amalgamated Transport and General Workers Union expanded his understanding of social security and its importance.
He encouraged colleagues to check their NSSF statements, to understand their savings, and to think beyond immediate needs. Over time, his advocacy extended beyond individual workplaces to national platforms. As trust in the Fund wavered during periods of scandal and public doubt, Owere became one of its strongest defenders, convinced that workers’ money needed protection, not fragmentation.
“Your savings should work for you long after your last salary,” he says.
Living the returns
When Owere reached retirement age and accessed his benefits, he treated the money with the same discipline that had built it. He invested deliberately. He bought land, built a home, and established a school that now serves both nursery and primary learners. He eliminated rent from his life and secured assets that would outlive his working years.
Even then, he did not stop saving. He continued to balance NSSF savings with cooperative societies and bank investments, understanding the value of diversification.
He welcomed the introduction of midterm access and voluntary savings, reforms he had long championed, and embraced the opportunity to keep contributing even after retirement.
For Owere, NSSF offered more than interest. It offered peace of mind. He saw it as safer than many alternatives and reliable in delivering long-term value.
Meanwhile, being recognized as the longest-serving member at NSSF’s 40-year milestone carries deep personal meaning for Owere. It affirms not just his loyalty to the Fund, but the correctness of a philosophy built on patience and foresight. The recognition is not about longevity alone. It is about consistency in a world that often rewards short-term thinking.
Looking ahead
Despite his achievements, Owere continues to save. He understands that money loses value over time and that uncertainty is part of life. Experiences like the COVID-19 lockdown reinforced his belief in preparedness. Schools closed, incomes stalled, and many families struggled. Those with reserves survived with dignity.
His guiding principle remains simple: save steadily, plan early, and think beyond yourself. He believes saving is not only about personal comfort, but about leaving a legacy and setting an example for the next generation.
At 66, Usher Wilson Owere is still saving, still advocating, and still believing. His journey reflects the quiet power of long-term commitment and the enduring promise of social security when trust, patience, and purpose come together.
