Anomalies in payroll leave civil servants penniless

Police officers and teachers are the most affected by these irregularities.

Irregularities in the Public Service payroll computer system have caused delays in the payment of salaries and have also left several civil servants receiving less money than they are supposed to earn.

Police officers and teachers are the most affected by these irregularities.

One police officer based in Kampala, who talked to the Daily Monitor, said he found only Shs50,000 on his bank account for the February salary yet he is supposed to get Shs320,000.

“I am not alone. There are several other officers who got less salary and unfortunately, the little that was sent was automatically deducted to service bank loans. So we remained with nothing,” a constable said.

Irregularities
Interestingly, some civil servants found more money on their accounts than they are supposed to earn. For Instance, one police constable, who earns less than Shs270,000, found Shs1m on his account.

The officer said that the salary was sent to their account last week.
The Ministry of Public Service Communication Director, Mr Jonas Tumwine, told the Daily Monitor that he had no comment on the irregularities, but directed us to the Assistant Commissioner for Payroll, Mr Xavier Wanya, whose known telephone numbers were not available by press time.

“I have no idea that such irregularities occurred or whether there are any complaints about payments but the payroll department could know,” Mr Tumwine said.

Mr Joseph Ssewungu, the Kalungu West MP, said he was contacted by the teachers over the anomalies and forwarded their complaints to the relevant ministries.

“Government officials told me that they got a problem with the computer system and sent the salary on the 2011 payroll. But I wasn’t convinced because some teachers got less than Shs200,000 salary and no teacher was getting such an amount in 2011,” Mr Ssewungu said.

Mr Ssewungu said when he talked to Mr Keith Muhakanizi, the secretary to the Treasury, about the issues, he told him that the teachers should consult to the concerned officials.

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