Public Servants Salary in Uganda
A public servant is a person who works for the state or for local government, such as a judge or teacher.
How much do Public Servants earn in Uganda?
Currently, some of the lowest-paid civil servants, like office messengers under salary scale U8, earn sh270,000, while drivers under the same salary scale earn sh500,000.
Under the proposed enhancement “salary scale U8, office messengers and drivers in civil service will earn a minimum of sh1m”. Mukasa was addressing a press conference at the public service ministry in Kampala yesterday.
As part of salary enhancement, permanent secretaries are now smiling all the way to the bank after their salaries were increased from sh3.7m to sh15.4m.
The pay for directors increased three to fivefold. He said the salary enhancement was proposed in 2018/2019 and was being implemented in a phased manner, until 2025/2026.
He also pointed out that COVID-19 caused disruptions and a decline in the economic growth rate from the projected 6% to 4%.
“We wanted to look at the entire public service but we are using a roadmap,” Mukasa said, adding that the proposed enhancement was earlier supposed to end in 2023/2024.
Science Teachers’
PAY RISE: The minister said science teachers for secondary and tertiary institutions would benefit from the sh900b earmarked for salary enhancement, which the finance minister announced in the budget speech effective July.
“Science is basic to development,” he said, adding that: “Once science has played its role, change is inevitable.”
He cited the invention of fire, pointing out that this created a big change in society.
He also pointed out that the invention of wheels caused a major change in mobility and the transport industry.
He added that the invention of pulleys made life even better. He also pointed out that there was a brain drain, with scientists preferring to work in neighboring countries and overseas because of better pay.
“The scientists are good but they have been going out for better pay,” he said, adding that this was a disservice to Ugandans that do not benefit from the home-grown scientists.
Mukasa was commenting about the ongoing strike by art teachers, which is in its third week, over salary disparities.
Effective next month, all non-medical science graduates, including science teachers will earn sh4m and medical graduates sh5m. Diploma[1]holder science teachers will earn sh3m per month. In comparison, graduate arts teachers earn sh960,000- sh1.3m depending on experience.
Diploma arts teachers are paid sh745,000- sh784,000.
The Uganda National Teachers Union (UNATU) opposed the selective enhancement of salaries insisting that it contradicted their collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the Government.
Mukasa said the country was going to address the human resource challenges, including teachers of arts and security.
“Scientists are not that many and can be accommodated in the budget in a phased approach,” Mukasa said, adding that teachers of arts subjects were going to be considered in the next financial year.
Mukasa said primary school teachers would not benefit from the salary enhancement because they were too many and most of them teach science and social studies.
How much does a police officer earn in Uganda?
Currently, the lowest paid police officer who is a constable/fresh graduate earns Ksh32,880 (which in Ugandan currency is sh983,112). The Kenyan police chief, who is the highest-paid police officer, earns Ksh854,241 (an equivalent of Uganda’s sh25. 5m).