Finance Minister Matia Kasaija
A number of retired Ugandans waiting for their pension might soon be smiling on their way to the bank after the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED) released funds meant to clear their arrears.
On July 19, Ramathan Ggoobi, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development, and Secretary to the Treasury (PSST), announced the release of funds for the first quarter (Q1) of the current financial year (2022-2023).
According to PSST Ggoobi, in the first quarter, Shs 13 billion was released for the payment of verified salary pension arrears for the 2021-2022 Financial Year while Shs 178.3 billion was released for the clearance of gratuity arrears for the 2021-2022 Financial Year.
The release of funds for payment of salary and pension arrears as well as gratuity arrears for the previousl financial year followed the submission, by accounting officers, of names of several claimants and the amounts of money they are demanding.
In his communication to the accounting officers at both the central and local government levels, PSST Ggoobi issued orders for the display of the approved lists of beneficiaries on official noticeboards for transparency accountability purposes.
He also directed accounting officers to desist from smuggling names that are not on the list nor removing names from approved lists.
“You should make payments to only claimants whose names appear on the schedules attached,” the Permanent Secretary of the Finance Ministry and Secretary to the Treasury noted.
Meanwhile, it is not only retired public servants and pensioners who are celebrating the release of the first quarter funds. All government employees, including those who receiving salary increments under the new salary structure, are now assured of their salaries after the finance ministry released up to Shs1.6 trillion for payment of salaries. (Read Story Here).
The payment of salaries for July 2022 will clear show which groups of government employees have received salary increments, how much they have received, and if the enhancements tally with what government promised.
In order to improve service delivery and end the challenge of strikes over low pay, President Museveni’s government has proposed huge salary increments for teachers, doctors and other employees starting July 2022. (Read Story Here)
The proposed increments left many people wondering if government will really fulfill this pledge and increase salaries by very high amounts.
For example, opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye has argued that the promise of salary increment is just ‘another lie.’ (Read Story Here).
Finance Minister Matia Kasaija said the money for increasing teachers’, doctors’ and other civil servants’ salaries was available. (Read Story Here).
In August 2021, cabinet approved salary increment for teachers, doctors and other health workers. (Read Story Here).
See the salary structure that had been proposed for the 2021-2022 financial year here.
Meanwhile, an NRM MP angered teachers after telling them they are too poor to go on strike. (Read Story Here).
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