The salaries of top police and prison officials have been more than doubled. If only all financial matters in Uganda were sorted this efficiently, we’d all be living in paradise.
Starting this financial year, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Abbas Byakagaba and Commissioner General of Prisons (CGP) Johnson Byabashaija will be enjoying a hefty salary of Shs15.4 million per month. This is a massive leap from their previous pay of Shs6.8 million. It’s as if someone had decided their previous wages were the equivalent of a boda boda ride when they really deserved a luxury car. Their deputies are also seeing a nice bump in their pay, now earning Shs13.8 million from the old Shs6.7 million.
To add some numbers for context:
| Rank | Old Salary (UGX) | New Salary (UGX) |
|---|---|---|
| IGP/CGP | 6.8 million | 15.4 million |
| Deputy IGP/CGP | 6.7 million | 13.8 million |
| AIGP/Assistant CGP | 2.3 million | 6.47 million |
The rest of the ranks are not left out either. Junior police and prison officers are seeing a boost as well. The Special Police Constable, the lowest rank, will now take home Shs440,000, up from Shs375,200—an increase that could be the difference between eating posho and beef stew. A Sergeant will now pocket Shs653,035, which might finally cover that long-overdue family visit or a modest weekend getaway.
Some officers are reportedly already showing up in their best Kitenge, boasting about their new salary as if it were a freshly harvested banana bunch.
For those who’ve been wondering where all the money’s coming from, it’s part of a grand plan involving Shs334.95 billion allocated for enhancing salaries across various security agencies, including the UPDF, ISO, and ESO. The aim? To address pay disparities.
Last year saw scientists, health professionals, and teachers getting pay hikes. And now, the police and prisons are joining the salary party. While this could be seen as a government’s way of patting the security forces on the back, it also raises questions about when the rest of the public service will get their turn.
Finance Minister Matia Kasaija mentioned a 25% increment for personnel below the rank of Captain in the UPDF, which might feel like a slap on the back compared to the astronomical increases for the top brass. It’s as if the government decided that the highest-paid should get a golden parachute, while the rest of the team gets a more modest, yet still welcome, raise.
Frank Baine, the Prisons spokesperson, welcomed the salary changes with the enthusiasm of someone who’s just received a surprise wedding gift. “We are doing patriotism,” he said, though it’s unclear if patriotism now includes substantial salary bumps. The hope is that this increase will improve morale—much like how a new pair of shiny gumboots can uplift a farmer’s spirits during the rainy season.
The government aims to achieve salary parity across all security agencies within the next four years.
For now, the security chiefs are basking in their newfound financial glory, and the rest of the public service will have to wait and see if their turn for a pay rise is coming soon. As Mr. Jim Mugunga from the Ministry of Finance puts it, the phased approach to public service salary reviews will depend on the revenue resource envelope—think of it as waiting for the annual village feast, hoping that the cooking pot is not empty.
