President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has said government cannot pay good salaries to public servants if there’s no socio-economic transformation in societies.
Speaking at the passing out ceremony of 413 secondary school headteachers from Western Uganda, Mubende, and Kasanda Districts, who underwent ideological orientation training at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi, Museveni emphasized the link between economic development and the ability to pay higher wages.
“How will the state pay good salaries if there’s no socio-economic transformation? Where does it get money from? When we took over the government, we were earning very small salaries for a long time, even now I earn a small salary,” Museveni said.
The president who is also the patron for Patriotism Clubs in Uganda stressed that families need to undergo socio-economic transformation in order to create jobs, generate income, and pay taxes.
President Museveni urged that if families undergo socio-economic transformation, they create jobs, people get income, and they will be able to pay taxes.
“When they are able to pay taxes, the government gets more money then it will be able to put up infrastructure, deal with peace and security and also pay good salaries to public servants,” he noted.
Museveni explained that the decision to increase salaries for scientists was made to prioritize fields essential for national development, such as engineering and medicine. He used the example of his own background in the arts to illustrate the need for specialized professionals in critical sectors.
“Recently I was in a small war with you, the teachers. When we got a little bit of money, we decided to enhance the salaries of scientists. That is where the war started. We need these scientists more because we need engineers, medical doctors, among others. I studied Arts but I cannot come with my Shakespeare to put up a bridge,” he said.
Museveni urged the headteachers to embrace the NRM principles of patriotism, Pan-Africanism, socio-economic transformation, and democracy, as they work towards a prosperous Uganda.
He emphasized the importance of patriotism and its role in fostering unity and development.
The President also underscored the significance of socio-economic transformation in sectors such as commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services, and ICT.
He commended the efforts of Commissioner-Patriotism, Hellen Seku, for promoting patriotic values among headteachers and acknowledged the Ministry of Education and Sports for their commitment to human resource development.
Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Museveni, expressed gratitude to President Museveni for his guidance in the education sector and emphasized the role of headteachers in instilling values and shaping young minds.
Milly Babalanda, Minister for Presidency, praised the NRM’s core principles and emphasized the significance of patriotism in achieving progress.
Museveni reiterated the importance of patriotism, socio-economic transformation, and democracy. He encouraged public officers to be accountable and to fight corruption
