Nakaseke District Woman Member of Parliament, Sarah Najjuma is irked by non-payment of salaries of scientists in her district. She raised the concern last week on the floor of Parliament as a matter of national importance.
According to Najjuma, despite the assurances made by the Minister of Finance, Matia Kasaija to Parliament in mid-December to immediately release funds for salary payments, scientists in Nakaseke district are yet receive their December salaries.
“Most of these civil servants have salary loans and they are being charged fines by the banks,” said Najjuma.
Nakaseke district Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) wrote to staff on November 28th communicating the anticipated delay in the payment of December salaries.
The letter was copied to all public health, agricultural extension, tertiary and secondary, banking and lending institutions in Nakaseke district Local Government.
“Nakaseke district received wage funds for Quarter 2 of the financial year 2022/2023 from the Ministry of Finance with a shortfall of 1,327,963,663 billion in relation to salaries of staff. The district is not in a position to pay salaries and deductions for the above-mentioned staff for December until the shortfall is offset,” reads part of the letter signed by Martin Osembo the CAO for Nakaseke.
While responding to the concerns raised in parliament, Kasaija argued that salaries and wages have got the first call on the budget and promised to check why people have not received their salaries.
“If there is any institution or sector that draws salaries from the treasury and that money has not yet been given or even sent, then there must be a procedural problem. I want to promise this House that as soon as I leave here, I will go and check,” said Kasaija.
But in Parliament on Friday, the Minister of State for Finance (General Duties), Henry Musasizi said investigations into non- payment of December salaries for civil servants will be carried.
He said that while the ministry released the wage component for the last quarter, they continue getting factual complaints of some civil servants who have not yet received their salaries.
“I want to propose that you allow us to find out why people still go unpaid, while on our side, we have released all the wages,” said Musasizi.
Apart from Nakaseke, Different Chief Administrative Officers including that of Wakiso District have in the past weeks written informing government employees about the insufficient funds to pay salaries for December.