Public servants who have eagerly been waiting to see their salary increments for the new financial year will have to hold on a little for government to process them.

Teachers from different districts marching on National Teachers day 2006. File photo

The public servants receive their salaries by the 28 day of every month, but have not been paid this time around.

The ministry of public service spokesperson, Jonas Tumwine said the salaries have delayed because the ministry is still computing the new salary figures to match the increments.

The Government this financial year increased the salaries of all the public servants and soldiers, giving the ministry a task of updating the payrolls.

“We delayed to clear the salaries because we had to ensure that all the increments were captured. But the salaries will be there by Wednesday August 8.

The assistant commissioner in charge of the payroll, Savia Mugwanya also confirmed that the salaries would be deposited by next week.

“The delay in paying June and July salaries is pegged to specific activities. But the four months before June, we paid salaries by the 28 of the month,” Mugwanya said.

Last month, the salaries of public servants also delayed because the ministry was reportedly updating the government payroll in a bid to weed it out ghosts.

After weeding the payroll, the public service ministry saved some funds, part of which was used to effect the salary increments this financial year.

In the new salary changes, primary school teachers got a 15% increment while science teachers in secondary schools and tertiary institutions got a 30% rise.

Health workers were allocated a 10% increment and other public officers were given varying percentages, which were in line with their salary scales.

The delays in salary payment has left civil servants in debt mostly from getting house hold requirements from nearby shops.

But the chief administrative officer for Mukono, Luke Lokuda, told Sunday Vision that accounting officers in districts communicated to their staff about the salary delays and were willing to wait until next week.

Lokuda noted that the morale and productivity of public servants will shoot down if the salaries are not deposited in their accounts by next week.

By John Semakula, The New Vision