The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) has unveiled its 11th annual report for the financial year 2023/24, highlighting significant salary disparities within Uganda’s public service.
The findings have raised concerns over fairness and equity in compensation across various roles.
A stark difference exists between the highest and lowest-paid chief executive officers in the public sector.
The Commissioner General of the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) earns an annual salary that exceeds that of the Secretary of the Uganda Land Commission by Shs739,555,176.
This disparity implies it would take the secretary nearly 27 years to earn what the Commissioner General receives in just one year.
The report also revealed inconsistencies in the compensation of legal professionals. Legal clerks with diplomas earn higher salaries than Assistant Commissioners of Legal Affairs who hold master’s degrees.
For instance, a legal clerk at the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) earns Shs3,500,000 monthly, untaxed, while an Assistant Commissioner of Legal Affairs in another department earns Shs2,900,000, which is subject to taxation.
Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs), despite their critical role in district administration, earn substantially less than the Heads of Departments (HODs) they supervise.
CAOs receive an average monthly salary of Shs2,369,300, compared to Shs6,500,000 for selected HODs.
This represents a significant difference of Shs4,130,700.
The education sector also faces salary imbalances, with head teachers earning considerably less than science teachers despite the latter often holding higher qualifications.
Headteachers earn between Shs2,270,984 and Shs2,350,000 monthly, while senior science teachers receive Shs4,250,000.
The EOC report calls for a comprehensive review of the public service salary structure to address these disparities and ensure fair compensation.
The Commission urges the government to take swift action to rectify these anomalies and promote a more equitable and motivated workforce.
