“Salaries of all public servants will be enhanced in a phased manner beginning in July 2018.” Said, Muruli Mukasa – Minister for Public Service. Christmas appears to have come early for a section of public servants among health workers and low ranking officers in security agencies. This group of public servants will notice a positive change in their payslip effective July 2018. However, the government’s basket of goodies announced by the Minister of Public Service Muruli Mukasa raised more questions than answers. Some Civil Society Activists wanted to know where exactly the government will get funds to effect the salary reforms without necessarily picking more from the taxpayers’ pockets. “The issue I think we need to ask ourselves is where this money is going to come from and I think our government can find the money if it tries to reduce the leakage.” Said, Cissy Kagaba – Executive Director, Anti-Corruption Coalition of Uganda.
“It is important that when a promise is made, it’s fulfilled when that doesn’t happen, then the whole idea of salary enhancement falls flat.” Said Dr. Livingstone Sewanyana ED, Foundation for Human Rights Initiative. The Executive Director of the Anti-Corruption Coalition of Uganda, Cissy Kagaba said the salary increment may not be enough motivation to workers without essential tools to work. “Are you also giving them the tools that they are going to use because one of the things that they kept talking about was that some health centers don’t have things like cotton wool and essential Medicine
While announcing the salary enhancement, the Public Service Ministry warned against inefficiency. However, the Executive Director of Foundation for Human Rights Initiative Dr. Livingstone Sewanyana said supervision was the way to go if the order was to be brought in the house. “As the government, we have to ensure that performance appraisal is stepped up that there is minimal or absolutely no absence to duty, we have got to ensure that work processes are clear that there are tools and equipment.” Said Catherine Musingwire, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Public Service. “It will also be important to improve the supervision of public officials because without effective supervision many of them do not invest as much time as required to serve the public. Secondly, training is important; in this digital edge public servants need to be acquainted with modern forms of communication and tools.” Said Dr. Livingstone Sewanyana.
A series of reports have over the years documented ghost workers in Public Service, corruption, and absenteeism. The Civil Society Activists feared those behind inefficiencies and graft could instead benefit more. “Corruption definitely affects this proposal in many ways, one; when money is diverted if the officers who have the duty to pay out do not do so and divert it to their own personal need.” Said Dr. Livingstone Sewanyan. “And that’s where the government needs to come in and tighten and it ensures that it monitors and actually verify that these teachers that we are paying or these health workers we are working are actually on the ground and are actually there.” Said the ED Anti-Corruption Coalition of Uganda.
The reforms in the salary structure of public servants came amidst sustained strikes particularly this year by many public service workers among them; doctors, nurses and State prosecutors over low pay and poor working conditions.
