The State Minister for Defence Jacob Oboth was on Wednesday afternoon quiszed by legislators in Parliament over selective salary enhancement for top soldiers in the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) .
According to a new salary structure effective July 2022, a General will earn 15 million Shillings, Lieutenant General at 13 million Shillings, Major General at 12 million Shillings, a Brigadier at 10 million Shillings, a Colonel at eight million, Lieutenant Colonel at five million and Major at 2.5 million.
The salary enhancement options were proposed to the Ministry of Finance during a High Command meeting held on July 6, 2022.
A section of MPs in Parliament however questioned the timing and crietria in increasing the salaries.
Kassanda North MP Patrick Nsamba Oshabe stated that the timing for the selective increment is complicated because other civil servants are demanding the same.
Similarly, Busia Municipality MP Geoffrey Macho questioned why other security forces like the Uganda Police Forces and the Uganda Prisons Services were not catered for.
The Speaker of Parliament Anita Among observed a need for a salary review commission to look at the salaries of all public servants and ensure that all Ugandans are treated equally.
“We need a salary review commission that will cater for all sectors irrespective. Hon Minister,with the economic situation, you only commit to pay big people?” Among said
In response, the State Minister for Defence Jacob Oboth explained to legislators that only top ranking soldiers were considered because their junior officers from the rank of Captain and below got a pay rise in 2018.
He stated that Parliament will cater for all civil servants as already promised in a phased manner.
Take it from me that the salaries of other categories of officers will have to wait for the general salary review. Government will come up with a position to cater for all.