The biggest salary increases under the government’s newly approved public service pay structure have gone to scientists, specialised professionals and senior technical officers, reinforcing a policy that has drawn both praise and criticism over widening pay gaps across the public sector.
Among the highest beneficiaries are chief state attorneys and senior commissioners in scientific security cadres, whose monthly salaries have risen from about Shs8.6 million to Shs12.8 million. Assistant commissioners and deputy commissioners have also received substantial increases to about Shs6.5 million, while commissioners will now earn about Shs12.5 million.
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In the education sector, Grade III primary school teachers will earn about Shs700,000 per month, up from Shs500,000. Head teachers’ salaries have increased to about Shs1.5 million, while deputy head teachers will now receive about Shs1.4 million. Science teachers continue to earn significantly more than arts teachers, despite salary increments for arts education officers.
However, resident district commissioners (RDCs), deputy RDCs, assistant RDCs and presidential advisers will see no change to their salaries under the new structure. Many graduate professionals on the U4 salary scale also remain below Shs1 million per month.
The revised salary structure, contained in Circular Standing Instruction No. 3 of 2026, takes effect from July 1 and follows Parliament’s approval of the 2026/27 national budget, which allocated Shs9.7 trillion to the public sector wage bill—about Shs1.1 trillion more than the previous financial year.
The Ministry of Public Service said the revised salaries are intended to improve recruitment and retention of skilled workers in critical sectors such as health, education, engineering and security, which the government considers central to Uganda’s industrialisation and socio-economic transformation agenda.
Key salary adjustments in the 2026/27 financial year
| Position/Cadre | Previous Monthly Salary | New Monthly Salary | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chief State Attorney | Shs 8.6m | Shs 12.8m | +Shs 4.2m |
| Senior Commissioner (Scientific Cadres – Security) | Shs 8.6m | Shs 12.8m | +Shs 4.2m |
| Commissioner | – | Shs 12.5m | Increased |
| Deputy Commissioner | Shs 1.8m | Shs 6.5m | +Shs 4.7m |
| Assistant Commissioner | Shs 1.6m | Shs 6.5m | +Shs 4.9m |
| Principal Officer | — | Shs 4.5m | Increased |
| Science Teacher | Above Shs 4m | Above Shs 4m | Maintained at higher scale |
| Arts Education Officer | Below Shs 1.5m | Below Shs 2m | About +Shs 500,000 |
| Education Assistant (Grade III) | Shs 500,000 | Shs 700,000 | +Shs 200,000 |
| Head Teacher (Art) | Shs 1.0m | Shs 1.5m | +Shs 500,000 |
| Deputy Head Teacher (Art) | Shs 750,000 | Shs 1.4m | +Shs 650,000 |
| Resident District Commissioner (RDC) | Shs 2.3m | Shs 2.3m | No change |
| Deputy RDC | Shs 1.3m | Shs 1.3m | No change |
| Assistant RDC | Shs 820,000 | Shs 820,000 | No change |
| Senior Presidential Advisor | Shs 2.4m | Shs 2.4m | No change |
| Presidential Advisor | Shs 2.4m | Shs 2.4m | No change |
| Graduate Professional (U4 Scale) | Below Shs 1m | Below Shs 1m | Largely unchanged |
During scrutiny of the budget, Parliament’s Budget Committee considered proposals to enhance salaries for scientists, teachers, health workers, judicial officers, security personnel and other public servants. The committee, however, urged the government to eventually address salary disparities across the wider public service.
The government’s phased salary enhancement programme, introduced in recent years, has consistently prioritised scientists and specialised technical professionals. While supporters argue the policy strengthens key sectors, critics—including arts teachers, local government leaders and other public servants—say it has widened inequalities within the public service.
Days before the new salary structure was released, Bardege-Layibi MP Martin Ojara Mapenduzi called for better pay for local government political leaders, arguing that district chairpersons and councillors carry significant responsibilities despite modest remuneration. The latest salary review leaves those concerns unresolved.
The Ministry of Public Service has directed all accounting officers to implement the approved salary scales across ministries, departments, agencies, local governments and other public institutions within their respective wage budgets from July 1, 2026.
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