Civil servants to receive salary before christmas
Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi makes a statement. He pledged that those responsible for the delay in payment would be made to account. Photo by Geoffrey Sseruyange.
PARLIAMENT- Civil servants will be paid their December salaries by December 20, the State Minister for Finance, Mr Fred Omach, has said.
“The Ministry of Finance has agreed with the Public Service ministry that by December 20, all the salaries should have been paid,” Mr Omach said on Thursday.
He was responding to claims by some legislators that even as Christmas Day draws closer, many civil servants have either not been paid or have received only half of their November salaries.
Mr Wafula Oguttu and Mr Eddie Kwizera MPs for Bukooli Central and Bufumbira East respectively, said many teachers and nurses in their constituencies had also missed their salaries months earlier.
“Many teachers and nurses in my constituency are bitter because they missed their June and August salaries. They do not know where to look for the salaries,” said Mr Oguttu.
“Civil servants are taking home half their salaries for many months. The half meant for last month has delayed. Why would one pay someone who has worked for 30 days half the pay? What is happening?” asked Mr Kwizera.
Mr Omach said, “The Finance ministry released the salaries for the second quarter. The Ministry of Public Service is responsible for payment of salaries. So if there have been delays in paying salaries, I would have to consult with the public service.”
The MP of Mbarara Municipality, Medard Bitekyerezo, said technocrats in the Finance and Public Service ministries who might have caused the delay in paying civil servants should be sacked.
“What is the work of those technocrats in the ministries of Finance and Public Service? Why can’t you punish or sack them?” said Mr Bitekyerezo.
Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi said those responsible would be held to account.
“I take responsibility for the delays, and we will do all that is possible to ensure that the dues of all public servants are given to them in time. And those who are responsible for undue delays will obviously have to answer.” said Mr Mbabazi.
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