Will Public servant's salary enhancement improve service delivery in Uganda?

Government has resolved to enhance salary of all public servants in the next financial year.

Addressing journalists at media center, the minister for public service Muruli Mukasa said the agreement was reached during a special cabinet meeting chaired by President Museveni at state house Entebbe on 9th December.

Muruli says this however is to be done in a phased manner with the beneficiaries of the first phase to include the sectors of ; Education, local government, internal affairs, health, Judiciary, Defense and Security as he explains.

The enhancement according to Muruli has been considered taking into consideration the economic situation of the country, strategic priorities and commitments.

However, the government’s basket of goodies announced by the Minister of Public Service raises more questions than answers.

Some Civil Society activists want to know where exactly the government will get the funds to effect the salary reforms without necessarily picking more from the tax payer’s pockets.

The Executive Director of Anti-corruption coalition, Cissy Kagaba says the salary increment may not be enough motivation to workers without essential tools to do the work.

While announcing the salary enhancement, the public service ministry warned against inefficiency.

However, the Executive Director of Foundation for Human rights initiative, Dr Livingstone Sewanyana, says supervision is the way to go in order to bring order in the house.

A series of reports have over the years documented ghost workers in public service, corruption and absenteeism.The civil society activists fear those behind the inefficiencies and graft could instead benefit more.

The reforms in the salary structure of public servants come amid sustained strikes particularly this year by many public service workers among them doctors, nurses and state prosecutors over low pay and poor working conditions.