Senior police and prison officers in Uganda are set to receive substantial salary increases following the government’s move to raise the national wage bill by shs724.7 billion for the 2025/2026 financial year.
The increment, which took effect on July 1, 2025, is part of a broader government strategy to address wage disparities across the public service.
According to Circular Standing Instruction No. 01 of 2025 from the Ministry of Public Service, the salary enhancements are being implemented in phases to ensure fairness and equity in the public sector.
“The government continues to fulfill its commitment to enhancing the salaries of all public officers in a phased manner. Accordingly, shs 57 billion has been allocated for salary enhancement,” the circular stated.
Under the revised salary structure, Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGPs) and their counterparts in the prison service will now earn shs12.75 million, up from between shs7.8 million and shs8.8 million.
Senior Commissioners and Commissioners have also been moved into the same pay bracket.
Assistant Commissioners will see their salaries rise from shs1.6 million to shs3.8 million, while Superintendents will now earn shs2.05 million, up from shs990,000.
Previously, Commissioners of Police earned Shs7.8 million, Senior Commissioners received Shs10.6 million, while AIGPs in the legal directorate were paid Shs8.7 million.
AIGPs classified as in general service earned Shs7 million.
Lower-ranked officers last year saw their salaries raised. Police Constables will see their monthly pay increase from hs466,000 to shs583,000, while Special Constables will earn shs469,000, up from shs 375,000.
Public Service Minister Muruli Mukasa said the enhancements are part of a plan that began in the 2018/2019 financial year and has so far seen shs2.4 trillion invested in improving public sector wages.
“We are now entering the second phase, focusing on covering all remaining staff. With this progression, we are on track to meet 77% of our medium-term salary targets,” he said.
With the new adjustments, the national wage bill will grow from shs7.82 trillion in FY 2024/2025 to shs 8.55 trillion in FY 2025/2026, now accounting for approximately 11.8% of Uganda’s shs72.4 trillion national budget.
The announcement comes at a time when concerns over wage disparities within the public service particularly between science and non-science professionals remain a hot topic.
Recently, arts teachers staged a strike demanding equal pay with their science counterparts.
While the government acknowledged their concerns, the Ministry of Finance indicated that raising their salaries to shs 4 million per month would require over shs500 billion annually an amount the current budget cannot accommodate.
In a meeting with president Museveni recently, arts teachers called off the three week long strike and returned to classrooms on Monday this week.
Their return to classroom was triggered by the promises they got from the fountain of honour.
