Chief Justice Katureebe urges government to address judicial officers’ grievances

By our reporter

The Chief Justice of Uganda Bart Katureebe has asked government to address judicial officers’ concerns.

He acknowledges judicial officers are among the lowest paid civil servants in the region.

“When you pay peanuts, you get monkeys,” he says. He as well cautioned judicial officers to remain professional during negotiations.

Katureebe’s remarks come at a backdrop when state prosecutors are striking over low pay and poor working conditions.

Four  months ago, Government asked prosecutors to call off their strike committing to meet some of their demands, which included professional allowances, salary enhancements, and tax waivers.

The Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Spokesperson Jane Okuo Kajuga said the ninety days period expired without government delivering on its commitment.

“The government had made a commitment in writing to the Uganda Association of Prosecutors which included an increment of salaries, professional allowances, a tax waiver on their pay among others. However, after 90 days none of the commitments has been implemented,” said Kajuga.

The state attorneys’ complaints include handling complicated cases like terrorism, corruption and murder yet their salary package is less than what a tea girl at Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) earns.

Other grievances like not receiving allowances for working in hard-to-reach areas, professional practicing allowance and promotion.

According to the current salary structure of prosecutors under DPP, the lowest ranking state prosecutor earns a gross salary of Shs644, 963 a month with the highest paid prosecutor at the rank of Senior Principal State Attorney taking a gross monthly pay of Shs2.1m.