Gov't earmarks sh121b for pension, salary arrears

Government has earmarked a total of sh121.2b to pay some of the salary and pension arrears most of which are in local governments.

According to documents from the Ministry of Finance for the 2017/2018 budget, sh21.6b will be spent on salary arrears.

The biggest portions of salary arrears include sh1.7b for the ministry of health and sh876m for the Uganda Police Force.

For the payment of pension and gratuity arrears, government has earmarked sh99.6b.

Entities that will get the biggest portion of the pension and gratuity arrears include the East African Community Affairs with sh31b, sh6b for Kabarole district, and sh3.4b for the Ministry of Education and Sports.

The acting commissioner for compensation, Victor Leku, told the Parliament finance committee on Thursday that pension arrears have reached sh150b and that they put a heavy burden on government.