Former VP wants retirement age lowered to 45
Former VP, Dr. Specioza Wandira Kazibwe testing the new vehicle which government gave her on Monday. PHOTO BY STEPHEN OTAGE
What you need to know:
Public Service minister Muruli Mukasa said under their social protection policy, this is the kind of thinking they are planning to introduce to enable retiring civil servants to resettle with income generating projects to supplement their monthly pension
Former vice president Specioza Wandira Kazibwe has proposed that the retirement age for civil servants be lowered from the current 60 years, to 45 to allow civil servants to create personal investments.
While receiving a government vehicle on Monday, Dr Kazibwe, said retired civil servants should learn to leave urban centres and return to their villages to share the skills and experiences they acquired because this is the best age when they still have energy to help their communities create jobs.
“The mistake civil servants make is to retire at 60, ask for another contract of three years and by the time you leave you are about 65 years, when you do not have the energy to do your own things,” she said.
Dr Kazibwe added that at 60, demands are too many yet the income is too small to sustain them. She advised that if one planned and invested in an income generating project at 45, they would be able to prolong their lives because then they do not have to worry about lack of basic necessities to sustain them.
“Why remain in town to eat food whose source you are not sure of. Leave the jobs to the young people and go and do exercise in the farm. There is a lot of money in agriculture but we do not know,” she said.
Public Service minister Muruli Mukasa said under their social protection policy, this is the kind of thinking they are planning to introduce to enable retiring civil servants to resettle with income generating projects to supplement their monthly pension.
“Currently people think retirement is the end of the road yet this is not the case. The moment you join public service, you will be required to share with us your retirement plan and we advise you on the most appropriate business based on your competences,” he said.
He explained that currently, the pension paid out to retired civil servants is not enough to meet their needs. Government handed over a brand new Land cruiser to the former VP which she is entitled to under the Past Leaders’ Act.
