AG's Report Exposes Glaring Payment Disparity Between Retired Science Officers, Arts Professionals

A report by the Auditor General has shed light on a significant disparity in pay within the civil service, particularly between retired science and arts professionals. 

The report, submitted to Parliament, highlights how the pay gap is even more pronounced when comparing retirement benefits. For example, while science teachers currently earn 4,000,000 shillings per month, their arts colleagues receive only 1,078,162 shillings. 

The difference becomes even clearer when looking at retirement packages: a science teacher retiring early could receive a lump-sum gratuity of 172,800,000 shillings, whereas an art teacher would only receive 46,576,598 shillings. In terms of monthly pensions, the gap persists, with retired science teachers receiving 1,920,000 shillings per month, compared to just 517,518 shillings for arts teachers.

“The reduced monthly pension of a science teacher of UGX. 1,920,000 is more than twice the net pay of a serving Arts teacher of the same scale,” the Auditor General reads in part.

The report further revealed that the enhanced retirement package has inadvertently become an incentive for early retirement, as individuals can secure a better income even after leaving active service.

This issue has been raised by district education officers, who reported a growing trend of science teachers opting for early retirement to take advantage of the lump-sum gratuity and pension, which they see as a more favourable financial option.

For example, in an interview with our reporter in September last year, Mercy Orikiriza, Acting District Inspector of Schools in Ntungamo, expressed concern over the situation. She highlighted that since the beginning of the year, numerous teachers and headteachers have raised concerns about the increasing number of science teachers seeking early retirement.

“This is a serious issue that needs immediate attention,” Orikiriza told our reporter, highlighting the paradox of teachers seeking early retirement despite the recent pay increases. She emphasized the urgency of addressing these concerns to prevent further disruption in the education sector.

Similarly, the Auditor General compared the positions of a Commissioner for Science and a non-science Commissioner to assess how salary differences affect their retirement benefits. The analysis revealed that a Commissioner with science qualifications earns 10,622,398 shillings per month, while a Commissioner with arts qualifications earns 1,859,451 shillings.

Further findings showed that upon retirement, the science Commissioner would receive 462,711,657 shillings in gratuity, while the arts Commissioner would receive only 80,774,551 shillings. In terms of monthly pensions, the science Commissioner would receive 5,141,241 shillings, compared to 897,495 shillings for the arts Commissioner.

The analysis further highlighted that the monthly reduced pension for a science Commissioner—5,141,241 shillings—is more than three times the net pay of a serving arts Commissioner at the same rank.

“If the discrepancies are not addressed and managed, the increment for science officers may be an incentive for early retirement, create disharmony within public service and the Pension liability may not be sustainable,” the report stressed. 

The government, with the foresight of President Museveni, increased salaries for scientists to attract and retain critical talent, as well as recognizing the importance of science and innovation in driving the country's development.

However, the Auditor General noted that before the salary enhancements for scientists, the government appears to have neglected to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the cost implications of these increased wages, particularly the resulting incentive for early retirement and exponential rise in pension liabilities.

In light of these findings, the Auditor General recommended that the government conduct a comprehensive review of salary structures and pension terms for civil servants to ensure fairness and financial sustainability.

Usher Wilson Owere, a private labour consultant, observes that the salary disparity continues to widen despite efforts to advise the government on better management, even during his tenure as a labour union leader. He also highlighted that while the country has prioritized scientists, the neglect of the arts and humanities has significant consequences, and a balance must be maintained.

"Now that scientists' salaries have been increased, we hope the government will begin addressing the humanities effectively in this budgeting cycle. It's unacceptable for retirees to earn more than those who are still actively working," he stated.

Owere further pointed out that, as proposed by the government, it's time to make serious changes to the retirement schemes and benefits for public officers. He advocated for a new, sustainable model in which even the workers contribute.

"There are some reforms they have suggested, and I think there's a bill to this effect. The suggestions are good, but the question is how they will be implemented. You know, sometimes good ideas are killed," he remarked.

In 2023, the government introduced the Public Service Pensions Fund Bill 2023, which mandates that every public servant contribute 5% of their gross salary to the pension fund each month. In return, the government will contribute 10% of the employee’s gross salary, a shift from the current system where the government covers 100% of the pension for public servants’ retirement.