11,000 pensioners to share sh60bn

Oct 24, 2007

THE Government has published a list of 11,214 pensioners, whose arrears totalling sh60b, has been sent to their bank accounts. The full list includes names of retired public servants who have been waiting for their benefits since the collapse of the East African Community 30 years ago.

By Cyprian Musoke
and Chris Kiwawulo


THE Government has published a list of 11,214 pensioners, whose arrears totalling sh60b, has been sent to their bank accounts. The full list in today’s New Vision (print copy) includes names of retired public servants who have been waiting for their benefits since the collapse of the East African Community 30 years ago.

Public service minister Muganwa Kajura yesterday said those who retired first had been given priority, since the Ministry of Finance had not released the money in a lump sum.

Excited elders thronged the Ministry of Public Service in Wandegeya yesterday to check for their names on the notice board. Some were disappointed that their names were missing.

Benon Kigenyi, the ministry’s senior assistant secretary for finance and administration, said the money was sent through the Electronic Funds Transfer system.

Peninah Byamugisha, the widow to Corporal Peter Byamugisha, said her husband’s name was missing yet she submitted her papers in May this year.

Asked why some of the pensioners were missing on the lists, Kigenyi clarified that they were following the order of application. He said some pensioners submitted their applications late.

Gaster Mwanje, a former Radio Uganda engineer, said he was hopeful that his name would be on another list soon.

“We have been informed that another list will come out before CHOGM (late November). At least we are grateful that we are going to be paid,” Mwanje added.

A former Ministry of Water employee, who preferred anonymity, said he retired in 1992. “In fact, some of us had given up.”

Another beneficiary, a former employee in the President’s
Office, who retired in 2004, said he had gone to check for his name.

“It is better to know that the name is on the list before you check with the bank.” But he said he could not see his name because his eyesight was poor.

Another claimant, only identified as Haji Sula, said he was grateful to the Government for paying their long-awaited arrears.

“We are happy that we have at last been paid. We hope more names will come out.” He declined to reveal how much he had been paid.

The lists bear only names but no amounts due to them.

Mary Awori, a widow to a former Prison’s warden, said she was shocked to find that her husband, William Ongom’s name was missing.

Earlier this year, the Government sensitised all pensioners at the local level about the electronic funds transfer system and advised those without bank accounts to open them for easy payment.

Of the 44,000 pensioners, 21,000 of them are teachers. The pension debt is sh284b, of which former local government employees demand sh17.5b.

The Government has budgeted for sh186b this financial year, to be released quarterly. During the June-August 2007 quarter, sh15b was paid out to 900 former workers.

The next release will be in January-March 2008. Kajura said the Government was committed to clearing all arrears.

“The pensioners should not pay any money to anybody to receive their entitlements,” he advised.

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