Shs22 billion pay raise cash splits judicial officers
Chief Justice Bart Katureebe
Kampala- Magistrates countrywide have petitioned the judiciary leadership, contesting a decision to commit a substantial part of Shs22.3b released for salary enhancement to recruit seven new judges.
In a June 3 petition to Chief Justice Bart Katureebe, senior officials of Uganda Judicial Officers’ Association (UJOA), a national umbrella body, raised the unaddressed plight of lower cadre staff such as magistrates that do the bulk of judicial work.
“It has come to our attention that a substantial amount of this additional wage Bill (increment) has been taken up by a proposed recruitment of seven judges. This has resulted in a reduced proposed increment for members of the lower Bench,” reads the petition.
It is signed by UJOA President, Mr Godfrey Kaweesa, who is a High Court registrar, and Vice President Sheila Gloria Atim and General Secretary Elisha Arinaitwe, both Grade One magistrates. Mr Kaweesa yesterday confirmed co-authoring the petition on June 3, which as Martyrs Day was a public holiday, but declined to discuss its contents.
A senior judiciary official yesterday dismissed the petition as premature and unfounded.
Ms Esta Nambayo, the chief registrar, said the complaint of alleged salary discrimination between the lower and higher level judicial staff was not based on facts because the judiciary leadership has not assigned the Shs22b.
“Where are they getting the figures [from]? They are just panicking,” Ms Nambayo said, adding, “There is nothing to comment about because there is no working document. They (UJOA leaders) are just moving all over; they have come to me, the Principal Judge and the Chief Justice.”
A lower cadre judicial staff, who asked not to be named due to sensitivity of the matters, claimed that they handle at least 80 per cent of cases yet their proposed pay increase is only 65 per cent while judges are poised to enjoy doubled salary. We could not independently verify these claims.
In the petition, the magistrates and registrars complained that they are under-facilitated and under-paid compared to judges who have far more attractive remuneration package; higher salaries, guards and Shs4m monthly housing allowance.
Their other benefits include a chauffeur, flying Business Class while on foreign trips and pocketing professional allowances or honorarium. The judicial officers argue that the Shs22b that the government disbursed was not for recruitment of judges but to increase the pay for in-service judicial officers.
“A separate provision or supplementary budget can be obtained for recruitment. UJOA, therefore, protests the salary structures proposed by the Judiciary administration which are in disregard of Cabinet decision of 2017, as amended, without consultation of the members of the lower Bench,” the June 3 petition to the Chief Justice reads in part.
If the proposed salary adjustment, which Chief Registrar Nambayo disputes, is implemented, the Chief Justice would earn Shs26.5m monthly, up from the current Shs20m.
A High Court judge’s monthly pay would more than double from Shs9m to Shs22.5m while a Grade One Magistrate would pocket Shs4.8m, up from Shs1.5m.
Cabinet resolution
The UJOA executives want the salary adjustments allegedly proposed by the Judiciary administration to take effect in the 2019/2020 Financial Year, which starts on July 1, to be discarded and 2017 enhancements that Cabinet and the President approved be implemented.
Under the Cabinet resolution, the Chief Justice is to earn Shs26.5m, High Court judge Shs22.5m, Chief Registrar Shs20m and Grade One Magistrate Shs4.8m.
A member of UJOA, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of administrative sanction, said the wide pay difference was a disincentive and public resources should be shared more equitably between employees.
