MAKING A SUSTAINABLE IMPACT

Strategic objective

The Fund aims to achieve an annual saving of 15% on the water and energy bills. Our target in paper reduction is 95%.

Our Key Environmental impacts last year include:

• 5% (2020: 32%) reduction on energy consumption for both Workers house and social security properties
• 19% (2020: 6%) saving on water consumption for both workers house and social security properties
• 70% (2020: 27%) reduction in paper consumption

During the year, the Fund acquired a 5% reduction in the annual energy bills for both Workers House and Social Security House from UGX 1 Bn in 2020 to UGX 0.958 Billion in 2021. Total consumption of paper in our various offices reduced by 61.5% from 650 realms in 2019 to 250 realms in 2021.

Endorsement

Environmental impact assessment on real estate projects

During the year, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) conducted an Environmental impact assessment on all the Fund’s construction projects in compliance with Regulation 37 of the environmental assessment regulations, Statutory instrument No.13 of 1998. The audit revealed that the Fund was compliant in a number of areas as highlighted below:

• Environmental Management and Monitoring Plans were implemented as per the project brief.
• There was minimal dust generated at the construction sites and water sprinkling was being done for areas generating dust.
• The Fund was found to be compliant to the Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2007 which ensures that adequate occupational health and safety measures and procedures are put in place including provision of appropriate protective gear to be used by the entire workforce

The assessment helps the Fund to be aware of the impact of its activities, reduce risks and generate opportunities in conserving the environment, using technologies to assist in the prevention, mitigation or adjustment of negative impacts.

Energy efficiency and management

The Fund is committed to continual improvement in energy management performance through prevention of energy wastages. Electricity is the major source of energy supply to buildings owned by the Fund. This electrical power is supplied directly to the buildings by an UMEME distribution feeder. The feeder then distributes the power through three transformers. When the electrical supply to the building is cut-off, two diesel generators provide standby power.

The Fund undertook the following activities during the year to ensure energy savings:

• Increased use of daylight in all our buildings, which include Worker house, Social Security house, Jinja and Mbarara
• Increased de-lamping especially in tenants ‘offices
• Re-lamping in areas with low lux levels
• Improved lighting controls such as occupancy sensors and daylight level sensors
• Replacement of the existing water-cooled chiller system, with a variable refrigerant flow system
• Increased use of variable frequency drives on the lift motors
• Grouping of lifts in odd or even numbers

During the year, the Fund acquired a 5% reduction in the annual energy bills for both Workers House and Social Security House from UGX 1 Bn in 2020 to UGX 0.958 Billion in 2021. Total consumption of paper in our various offices reduced by 61.5% from 650 realms in 2019 to 250 realms in 2021.

Water resources management

Water and waste handling, treatment, and disposal are conducted in accordance with regulations, as identified in Section 4.2, Global Environmental Health and Safety (GEHS), which help in water monitoring and management. Waste management at the Fund properties was in line with the Kampala Capital City statutory regulation 243. Management considers waste and sewage management as a key aspect to foster sanitation. Our waste management process involves dealing with the waste generated from day to day-operational activities, food consumption, physical wear and tear of computer and office equipment, obsolete furniture and fixture and newspapers. Being a financial institution, the Fund does not deal with any hazardous waste.

Our waste is managed through the following ways:

• Both sides of papers are used and wasted papers are collected using bins after shredding
• Toner, cartridges and newspapers disposed of through community cleaners
• Kampala City Council manages human waste from buildings owned by National Social Security

Creating a Paperless environment

The Fund implemented an Electronic Document & Records Management System (EDRM), aimed at having a central repository for all Fund`s Records and streamlined workflow processes. The automation has aided in enhancing access and sharing of information among Fund staff and promoting a clean desk policy within the Fund.

The Fund has enjoyed several tangible and intangible benefits below because of using system:

• Savings on paper costs. There has been great reduction in paper consumption as the Fund adopted paperless office with the use of records system that has greatly streamlined document management via workflow processes control. The automation has reduced the rate of printing and photocopying Turnaround time (TAT) on handling correspondence has been reduced by at least 90%, attributed to the automated workflow in ADA system, which provides an electronic means of uploading and routing correspondence for review and approval.