Why Government Must Increase Public Servants’ Salaries Now: Barbara Nabuzale’s View On Atingi-Ego’s Warning

By Barbara Nabuzale | Opinion

Ugandans have been warned to prepare for difficult economic times extending into late next year, following concerns raised by Bank of Uganda Governor Michael Atingi-Ego about the country’s economic outlook, tightening money supply and the need for households to exercise financial restraint.

Among the suggestions reportedly made to the public is the need to cut back on expenditure, including spending on social functions such as weddings.

While prudent financial management is necessary during periods of economic uncertainty, a fundamental question remains unanswered: How is a public servant expected to survive when the cost of living continues to rise, yet their salary remains largely unchanged?

As a Ugandan citizen, I believe the government must urgently reconsider its public-sector salary policy. Economic stability cannot be achieved by making money scarce while leaving the people who deliver essential public services struggling to meet their most basic needs.

Inflation Is No Longer Just A Statistic

For ordinary Ugandans, inflation is not merely a figure presented in economic reports. It is a daily reality experienced in markets, homes, schools and workplaces.

Beans, traditionally considered an affordable staple for low-income households, are reportedly selling at between Shs 6,500 and Shs 7,000 per kilogram in some markets.

Rising fuel prices have increased transport costs, prompting taxi and boda boda operators to adjust their fares. Rent continues to rise, while schools are increasing fees in response to higher food prices and other operational costs.

The result is a growing financial burden on households whose incomes have not kept pace with the changing economic environment.

For a low-income public servant, the challenge is not about maintaining a luxurious lifestyle. It is about affording transport to work, paying rent, feeding a family, meeting school requirements and keeping the lights on.

A Police Officer’s Salary: A Month Of Struggle

Consider a police officer earning Shs 500,000 per month.

If she spends Shs 5,000 daily on transport to and from work, her monthly transport expenditure over 26 working days amounts to Shs 130,000.

If she also pays Shs 200,000 in rent for a single room in Kampala, her remaining salary is only Shs 170,000.

That balance must cater for electricity, water, food, school fees, medical expenses, clothing and other household necessities.

Can such a worker reasonably be expected to survive an entire month on that amount?

The situation is even more difficult for public servants supporting children, elderly parents or other dependants.

What savings can such a person make? What financial cushion can they build against an emergency?

For many, the answer is simple: nothing.

This is why salary enhancement should not be viewed as a privilege or a political favour. It should be considered an essential component of protecting the welfare and productivity of public servants.

Low Salaries Threaten Service Delivery

When public servants cannot survive on their official salaries, they are often compelled to seek additional sources of income.

A teacher may find it necessary to teach in two or three schools. A nurse or doctor may work in a government facility during the day before rushing to a private clinic in the evening.

While seeking additional income is understandable, such arrangements can create fatigue, divided attention and reduced productivity.

The ultimate casualty is service delivery.

A tired teacher may struggle to give learners the attention they deserve. An exhausted health worker may find it difficult to provide the quality of care expected by patients.

Government must therefore recognise that the welfare of public servants is directly connected to the quality of services delivered to citizens.

A well-motivated workforce is not a luxury. It is a national necessity.

Poor Pay Can Create Conditions That Encourage Corruption

Another concern is the relationship between inadequate remuneration and corruption.

A public servant who struggles to afford basic necessities may become increasingly vulnerable to unethical practices, particularly where opportunities for abuse of office exist.

This does not mean that low salaries justify corruption. Public servants must remain accountable, and corruption must be condemned regardless of the circumstances.

However, government must also address the economic conditions that can make unethical behaviour more tempting.

It is unreasonable to demand integrity, professionalism and dedication from workers while ignoring the financial pressures under which they operate.

Fair remuneration, alongside strict accountability, can contribute to a more professional and motivated public service.

Discouraging Social Spending Could Hurt Small Businesses

The call for Ugandans to reduce expenditure on weddings, introductions and other social functions also deserves careful consideration.

These events are not merely social gatherings. They provide income for thousands of small businesses and individuals.

Decorators, caterers, photographers, transport operators, musicians, event planners and boda boda riders all depend, in one way or another, on the money spent during social functions.

If households are discouraged from spending while their incomes remain stagnant, the impact could extend beyond individual families.

Small businesses could lose customers, workers could lose income, and economic activity within communities could decline.

The challenge, therefore, is to encourage responsible spending without unnecessarily undermining the livelihoods of people whose businesses depend on local demand.

Government Must Protect The Purchasing Power Of Workers

My humble appeal to government is that monetary discipline must be accompanied by a deliberate policy to protect the purchasing power of public servants.

Reducing money in circulation may be part of a broader economic strategy, but it does not automatically resolve the daily challenges facing workers.

If the cost of essential goods and services continues to rise, salaries must be reviewed accordingly.

Government should consider a structured salary adjustment that takes into account inflation, the cost of basic necessities, the responsibilities of different public-service professions and the need to maintain equitable remuneration.

Teachers, nurses, police officers, soldiers and other public servants perform essential duties that keep the country functioning.

Their contribution must be reflected in their compensation.

A salary review should not be limited to a few categories of workers while others are left behind. It should be guided by fairness, transparency and a sustainable national wage policy.

Inequality And The Question Of Fairness

There is also a broader question about inequality in Uganda.

Why should a police officer, nurse or teacher who works diligently to serve the country struggle to afford basic necessities while some public officials enjoy significantly higher salaries and benefits?

I am not suggesting that every profession should have identical remuneration regardless of responsibility, qualifications or the nature of the work.

However, the differences must be reasonable, transparent and justifiable.

If leaders are genuinely concerned about the welfare of ordinary Ugandans, then the salaries and benefits of public officials should be examined alongside those of the lowest-paid public servants.

A country cannot build lasting confidence in its institutions when the people at the bottom of the public-service salary structure feel abandoned.

Land, Livelihoods And The Right To Enjoy One’s Country

I am equally concerned about the growing financial and regulatory pressures facing ordinary citizens, particularly in relation to land.

Land is more than an economic asset for many Ugandans. It represents a home, a livelihood, a source of food and a measure of security for future generations.

While laws and regulations are necessary to protect public interests, they must be developed and implemented in a manner that does not unfairly burden ordinary citizens.

Uganda is our motherland. Every citizen, regardless of their financial standing, should have a reasonable opportunity to enjoy the resources and opportunities available within the country.

We must be careful not to create an environment in which people feel that their modest earnings and possessions are constantly under threat from policies they cannot afford to navigate.

Leadership Must Put Uganda First

Uganda is not a country in which every citizen will have the same financial resources. People differ in their abilities, opportunities, responsibilities and circumstances.

That reality should not be used to justify extreme inequality or the neglect of those who work hard but remain poor.

Our leaders have a responsibility to develop policies that benefit the country as a whole rather than serving narrow personal or political interests.

Economic policy must be judged not only by its impact on financial indicators but also by how it affects the lives of ordinary citizens.

When a public servant cannot afford transport to work, when a teacher cannot adequately feed their family, or when a nurse must work multiple jobs to survive, the country has a serious problem that cannot be ignored.

The government must act now.

Let us protect the purchasing power of workers, review public-sector salaries, support small businesses and ensure that economic reforms do not disproportionately punish the poorest citizens.

Otherwise, Ugandans will not merely brace for difficult times. Many may eventually break under the pressure.

A country cannot prosper when the people entrusted with serving it are struggling to survive.