By Peter Ssebulime
The Uganda Government and Allied Workers’ Union (UGAWU) have expressed grievances over the recent first and second phases of salary enhancement for all public servants which left a lot to be desired.
While speaking to media earlier on Monday, Christopher Kahirita, the national chairman of the Union, said salary increment of Permanent Secretaries in all government ministries was equal to all without any disparities, but when it came to the rest of the civil servants, they were divided in three categories which include scientists, non-scientists, and lawyers.
“Unlike the case of Permanent Secretaries in all government ministries where their salary increment was equal to all without any disparities, when it came to the rest of the civil servants, they were divided in three categories; scientists, non – scientists, and lawyers.
This left a lot of disparities in the whole civil service in the government whereby you find that the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) is earning about half of what the staff he/she supervises earn,” Kihirita said.
He added that “This also applies to the human resource officers, town clerks, district chairmen among others who run administration for the entire district.”
He noted that “In this respect, the Unions in the government sector resolved to lay down their tools, which still stands, if the government does not address this matter with the urgency it deserves, because if not addressed urgently, staff performance of their duties could be affected.”
“The Union still stand by their resolution till this matter is resolved because the recent communication to Union members from the Permanent Secretary, ministry of public service dated 7th November 2019, does not show any urgency in resolving this issue.
Lastly, let all government workers get together to boost the Union membership in order to have a strong force to face the present and future incumbrances,” Kihirita concluded
