Despite the biting poverty allover Uganda, the Ministry of Public Service has announced salary enhancement for selected government bosses to take effect on January 1 2017.
According to a letter dated January 12 and authored by Catherine Birakwate Musingwire, with retirement nine months away, Uganda’s second most senior judge, Steven Kavuma has been given a salary increment of Shs 7,467,419.
Deputy chief justice Kavuma has been earning Shs 10,000,000. It is a great gesture for him in the aftermath of claims that he recently swore an affidavit contesting his birthday and current age of 69 years, which would make him a candidate for retirement in September next year.
If the judiciary accepts Justice Kavuma’s affidavit, he will keep his job for another four years — in which time he will have pocketed over Shs816,000,000 if the current salary structure is maintained.
The Chief Justice Bert Katureebe will be walking away with Shs 20,000,000 from a previous Shs 11,560,150.
Similarly, Permanent Secretaries like Ministry of Finance’s Keith Muhakanzi, who have for the past few years been paid Ugsh 3,768,835 monthly will now get Ugsh 15,400,000.
The salary for the head of Public service has been increased by Ugsh 12,647,941 from Ugsh 4,952,059.
“The salary enhancement takes effect on 1st January 2017. You are required to utilize the resources within your votes and where inadequate, further guidance will be provided by the Permanent Secretary/Secretary to the treasury,” Ms Birakwate wrote.