State Prosecutors under the office of Directorate of Public Prosecutions, say they are still on strike until government addresses their concerns.
This follows last week’s announcement by the Minister of Public Service Muruli Mukasa that government does not have money this financial year for salary increment, and urged striking civil servants to return to work and await the outcome of the comprehensive salary review for all civil servants, expected to be completed in November.
The Minister advised those who are unwilling to wait for government to address their concerns in due time, to quit their jobs.
However in a statement, the State Prosecutors under their umbrella body Uganda Association of Prosecutors have now urged their colleagues to remain steadfast, saying their industrial action is legal, and protected both under the constitution and the Public Service standing orders.
The state attorneys’ complaints include handling complicated cases like terrorism, corruption and murder yet their salary package is less than what a tea girl at Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) earns.
Other grievances like not receiving allowances for working in hard-to-reach areas, professional practicing allowance and promotion.
According to the current salary structure of prosecutors under DPP, the lowest ranking state prosecutor earns a gross salary of Shs644, 963 a month with the highest paid prosecutor at the rank of Senior Principal State Attorney taking a gross monthly pay of Shs2.1m.
According to the salary structure for Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) approved by President Yoweri Museveni, the lowest paid employee (tea girl) earns sh1.1m per month.
