When Ssempijja Rodgers joined Smartlife Flexi, he did not just open a savings account; he started investing in his future. As an informal-sector worker with an irregular income, Smartlife Flexi gave him the flexibility to save when he could and showed him that every contribution, no matter how small, can help build lasting financial security.
I am a 38-year-old businessperson, farmer, and father of four living in Kabembe, Mukono District. I sell bedding in Owino Market and I also farm, growing coffee and keeping chickens and goats.
Saving has been a long-standing personal discipline for me, shaped by the circumstances in which I grew up and my determination to build a better future for myself and my family.
How did you first hear about Smartlife Flexi and what motivated you to start saving?
I first heard about Smartlife through a business associate in the Owino Market. Initially, I did not pay much attention because I was focused on my business and did not fully understand the product. When an NSSF representative visited the market, explained how it worked and encouraged me to join, I decided to try it.
The first year was a turning point. I saved gradually without withdrawing and, at the end of the target period, received my savings together with the interest earned. Seeing a tangible return on money I had deliberately put aside gave me confidence in the product.
I used the money to pay school fees and buy fertiliser for my coffee garden. Smartlife went from being an unfamiliar product to something I considered useful and trustworthy.
Before joining Smartlife Flexi, what did saving for retirement mean to you?
I have always believed that saving is not determined by how much or how regularly you earn. It is a personal discipline. You do not have to wait until you have a large amount of money. The little you make is what you can save from.
I have never relied on a large income. Through small, consistent acts of saving, I have been able to build a home for my family, develop my farm, and support my children's education.
For me, saving is not simply about accumulating money. It is about turning today's income into something that can improve my family's future.
How has the flexibility to save on your own terms made a difference?
Smartlife has strengthened my saving discipline because I can track my balance and see my contributions and interest growing on my phone. Seeing even small amounts increase encourages me to continue.
I save according to what I earn rather than committing to a large, fixed amount. At different times, I have saved between UGX 10,000 and UGX 50,000 a day. This flexibility suits me because income from my business and farming fluctuates.
Being able to access my money when I needed it also strengthened my confidence in the product. My experience is now based on what I have seen for myself, rather than what I have heard from others.
What does financial planning and security mean to you and your family?
I see saving for old age as a form of self-reliance. As we get older, our physical energy and ability to work reduce, and I do not want to reach a point where I may have to depend on my children or other people for my basic needs.
My goal is to reach old age with enough resources to live independently and rely less on my business in Owino Market. For me, saving means dignity, independence and being prepared for the future before it arrives.
How has saving changed the way you think about your future?
I do not save only for myself. I also save for my children and future generations.
My children's education is very important to me, particularly because I did not have the opportunity to attend school myself. The house, land, and coffee farm I am developing are intended to give my children opportunities that I did not have.
I also think about my grandchildren. I want to leave productive assets that can provide a home, food, or income for future generations. Saving is about creating options for my family long after today.