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Salary enhancements push public sector wage bill to sh9.7 trillion
Budget documents approved by Parliament show that Government has earmarked sh1.2 trillion for salary enhancements, increasing the public sector wage bill from sh8.5 trillion to sh9.7 trillion.
The documents indicate that wages and allowances will consume sh14.11 trillion, equivalent to 16.7 per cent of the sh84.39 trillion national budget. (File photo)
By: Mary Karugaba, Journalist @New Vision
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Finance Minister Henry Musasizi is set to present the 2026/27 national budget worth sh84.3 trillion later today, Thursday, with salary enhancements for public servants emerging as one of the key expenditure priorities.
Budget documents approved by Parliament show that Government has earmarked sh1.2 trillion for salary enhancements, increasing the public sector wage bill from sh8.5 trillion to sh9.7 trillion.
The documents indicate that wages and allowances will consume sh14.11 trillion, equivalent to 16.7 per cent of the sh84.39 trillion national budget. Staff expenses alone will account for sh8.22 trillion, representing 9.7 percent of total expenditure.
Government says it will begin implementing a phased salary enhancement programme in the next financial year targeting teachers, health workers, security personnel and other public servants. Uganda's public service workforce is estimated at about 400,000 employees.
The wage increase is among the largest expenditure items in the budget, second only to debt servicing, which will consume sh33.6 trillion, representing 39.8 percent of the national budget.
Classified expenditure has been allocated sh2.622 trillion, accounting for 3.1 percent of the budget, while other expenditures will take sh25.8 trillion, equivalent to 30.6 per cent.
A significant share of the salary enhancement allocation is expected to finance pay rises for arts teachers, who have for years protested the disparity between their salaries and those of science teachers.
Speaking during celebrations marking 120 years of King's College Budo in March 2026, Vice President Jessica Alupo assured arts teachers that the Government remains committed to improving their pay.
According to Alupo, arts teachers will begin receiving salary enhancements in the next financial year as Government gradually implements a promised 25 percent salary increment.
The wage increase is among the largest expenditure items in the budget, second only to debt servicing, which will consume sh33.6 trillion, representing 39.8 percent of the national budget.
Classified expenditure has been allocated sh2.622 trillion, accounting for 3.1 percent of the budget, while other expenditures will take sh25.8 trillion, equivalent to 30.6 per cent.
A significant share of the salary enhancement allocation is expected to finance pay rises for arts teachers, who have for years protested the disparity between their salaries and those of science teachers.
Speaking during celebrations marking 120 years of King's College Budo in March 2026, Vice President Jessica Alupo assured arts teachers that the Government remains committed to improving their pay.
According to Alupo, arts teachers will begin receiving salary enhancements in the next financial year as Government gradually implements a promised 25 percent salary increment.
"Our government recognises that all teachers play an important role in shaping learners. It is not true that science teachers are the only important teachers," she said.
The assurance follows years of criticism over Government's decision to prioritise science teachers in previous salary enhancement programmes. Since July 2023, graduate science teachers have been earning about sh4 million per month, while diploma holders receive about sh3 million. In contrast, graduate arts teachers currently earn between sh900,000 and sh1.3 million per month.
Under a proposed five-year pay reform programme, teachers are expected to become some of the highest-paid public servants in Uganda.
The plan proposes a basic monthly salary of sh8 million for science teachers and sh7.5 million for humanities teachers. Headteachers and deputy headteachers would earn approximately sh10 million per month, while senior education officers would receive at least double their current salaries.
Speaking in Mbarara during a sensitisation meeting on the proposed Public Service Contributory Pension Scheme in March 2026, the then Minister of Public Service, Wilson Muruli Mukasa, said the salary enhancements form part of a broader Government strategy to improve the welfare of public servants as the economy expands.
"Like the Government announced before, we have a pay plan for all categories of civil servants. As for teachers, there is a plan to make them one of the best-paid civil servants," Mukasa said.
The minister said the salary enhancement programme is being implemented in line with economic growth and assured workers that other categories of civil servants would also benefit over time.
The assurance follows years of criticism over Government's decision to prioritise science teachers in previous salary enhancement programmes. Since July 2023, graduate science teachers have been earning about sh4 million per month, while diploma holders receive about sh3 million. In contrast, graduate arts teachers currently earn between sh900,000 and sh1.3 million per month.
Under a proposed five-year pay reform programme, teachers are expected to become some of the highest-paid public servants in Uganda.
The plan proposes a basic monthly salary of sh8 million for science teachers and sh7.5 million for humanities teachers. Headteachers and deputy headteachers would earn approximately sh10 million per month, while senior education officers would receive at least double their current salaries.
Speaking in Mbarara during a sensitisation meeting on the proposed Public Service Contributory Pension Scheme in March 2026, the then Minister of Public Service, Wilson Muruli Mukasa, said the salary enhancements form part of a broader Government strategy to improve the welfare of public servants as the economy expands.
"Like the Government announced before, we have a pay plan for all categories of civil servants. As for teachers, there is a plan to make them one of the best-paid civil servants," Mukasa said.
The minister said the salary enhancement programme is being implemented in line with economic growth and assured workers that other categories of civil servants would also benefit over time.