By Our Reporter,
NATIONAL
“…Non-scientists and the other higher positions will come in along the way,” said Baryomunsi
Social media and mainstream media has recently been filled with reports on government proposal to increase salaries of different categories of public servants in the next financial year.
According to reports, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry of Public Service, Catherine Bitarakwate said they had submitted the proposals to Cabinet to adjust on salaries of scientists, teachers and medical workers among other categories in the public service.
Bitarakwate further noted that the proposal was copied to Information minister Chris Baryomunsi who confirmed reception of the proposal adding that cabinet discussed and recommended prioritization of scientists in the remuneration.
In the proposed salary remuneration, the chief administrative officer, the top civil servant and accounting officer’s salary is proposed to increase from Shs3.2m to 17.4m, and a director will earn an additional Shs15m.
The proposal also suggests for increase of pay for permanent secretaries from the recently adjusted to Sh17m to Sh20m.
Additionally, primary and secondary school head teachers, if the proposed salary structure is approved will have their salaries increased by Shs4m and Shs7.7m, respectively.
Healthworkers have also been considered in the FY 2O22/ 23 renumerstion. For instance, the pay for medical consultants and principal medical officers (senior doctors) are set to double while the entry pay for a doctor will be Sh5m in line with the demand by Uganda Medical Association. Judicial officers such as chief magistrates will earn an extra Shs7m, while lower-level public service cadres like nurses, teachers and police constable are assured to get double their current salary.
Although the public service ministry has proposed for the increase of public servants’ salaries, economic experts have questioned government’s abilities to implement the salary adjustment.
Finance minister Matia Kasaija said they are aware of the plans and they have cash to implement pay rise of select employees by three to five-fold.
Kasaija did not however disclose the source of the funds, he insisted that they will find cash to implement the upward pay adjustment.
He further boasted that the treasury has funds to implement the renumerstion; “Funds will come from the Treasury. Do you think the Treasury is broke? We have the money and the budget; so, public servants should get ready to eat big when Cabinet approves.”
Hopes of salary adjustment of non-scientists however failed after minister Baryomunsi asked them to wait as government is first considering scients and some low-ranking civil servants.
“Our position as Cabinet is that there should be a pay rise for public servants, but priority should be given to scientists and the lower-ranking civil servants. Non-scientists and the other higher positions will come in along the way,” said Baryomunsi
He said cabinet reviewed the proposal and recommended changes to the public service on the proposed salary citing out lack of funds to implement the same.
