(Kampala) – Mercy Kainobwisho, the Registrar General of the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), has rejected claims circulating on social media regarding the salaries of URSB staff. She characterized the information as completely false and called for caution when engaging with content on these platforms.
The controversy began when Jimmy Spire Ssentongo, a cartoonist and lecturer, shared an alleged salary list purportedly sourced from a document released by the Public Service Ministry on July 17, 2024. The list suggested that the lowest-paid employees at URSB, identified as support staff, earn UGX 3,005,000 monthly, while Kainobwisho herself was said to make UGX 40 million.
In a detailed statement, Kainobwisho emphasized that the leaked information is misleading. “Since the list appeared, I have received numerous inquiries from people seeking clarification. I urge everyone to disregard this misleading information,” she said.
Kainobwisho expressed concern about the pervasive nature of misinformation on social media, describing it as a “toxic battleground.” She advised the public to be cautious about the information they consume and to seek clarification from official sources. “For accurate information or any clarifications, please feel free to reach out to me via LinkedIn or email,” she added.
In light of the ongoing controversy, Kainobwisho announced her decision to deactivate her account on the platform, citing the negative environment and her desire to avoid engaging with misleading content. She reflected, “My intentions for being on social media were to share knowledge and inspire, but the negativity and toxicity have overshadowed those goals.”
The following table summarizes the alleged salary structure of URSB staff as claimed in the leaked document:
| S/N | Post | Monthly Salary (UGX) | Annual Salary (UGX) | Number of Posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Registrar General | 40,000,000 | 480,000,000 | 1 |
| 2 | Deputy Registrar General/ Company Secretary | 31,000,000 | 1,116,000,000 | 3 |
| 3 | Director | 28,000,000 | 3,024,000,000 | 9 |
| 4 | Head | 24,000,000 | 2,304,000,000 | 8 |
| 5 | Manager | 14,000,000 | 4,368,000,000 | 26 |
| 6 | Supervisor (Senior Officer) | 11,890,000 | 8,846,160,000 | 62 |
| 7 | Officer | 8,255,706 | 12,878,901,136 | 130 |
| 8 | Assistant Officer | 5,063,376 | 3,220,307,136 | 53 |
| 9 | Support Staff | 3,005,000 | 1,442,400,000 | 40 |
| Total | 37,679,768,496 | 332 |
Despite the outcry over the salary figures, Kainobwisho’s claims of misinformation were echoed by Godwin Toko, a lawyer involved in disseminating the leaked pay scale. He criticized public servants who might feel entitled and urged a more respectful attitude towards taxpayers.
Kainobwisho has said she remains hopeful that advancements in digital systems will help to address the spread of false information in the future.
