Judiciary in Uproar Over Salary Reversal

Judiciary in Uproar Over Salary Reversal

Uganda’s judiciary is on edge after deputy registrars, assistant registrars, and chief magistrates accused the government of quietly reversing an earlier salary increment.

On June 30, 2025, the Ministry of Public Service issued Circular Standing Instruction No.1 of 2025, spelling out the wage structures for the 2025/26 financial year. The circular raised the national wage bill to Shs 8.5 trillion, up Shs 724 billion from last year, and listed pay hikes for judicial officers.

According to the directive, deputy registrars’ pay was to increase from Shs 12.5 million to Shs 12.75 million, assistant registrars from Shs 10.5 million to Shs 12.75 million, and chief magistrates from Shs 9.8 million to Shs 12.75 million. The judiciary welcomed the adjustment as a fulfillment of President Museveni’s pledge to improve the welfare of judicial officers.

The promise echoed remarks Museveni made earlier this year at the Annual Judges Conference, where he vowed to boost pay for judicial officers and scientists to match regional standards. His announcement was met with applause.

But when July salaries landed, judicial officers were stunned to find no changes.

Bigirimana’s Clarification

Aggrieved, they petitioned judiciary permanent secretary Pius Bigirimana. On August 18, he issued a circular with bad news: the Public Service ministry had made an error.

Bigirimana explained that cabinet had only approved increments for chief administrative officers, undersecretaries, commissioners, and municipal and city town clerks—not judicial officers. He said judicial pay had already been enhanced under the Administration of the Judiciary Act, and that Public Service had acknowledged its mistake in a July 23 correction.

His message has sparked outrage across the judiciary

Independence Argument Sparks Anger

A member of the Public Service Commission, who requested anonymity, claimed judicial officers were excluded because the judiciary is an independent arm of government, meaning its pay structures should not be dictated by Public Service.

Judicial officers, however, insist the reasoning doesn’t hold water. Chief magistrates, for example, fall under the same category as commissioners—who did receive the increment. Officers from other independent institutions, including doctors, prosecutors, police, and prisons, also benefited.

“This is a direct cut to our salaries compared to our peers, and it’s unconstitutional,” said one chief magistrate. “If independence is being used to deny us benefits, why are we even included in the Public Service circular in the first place? We can’t be independent only when it disadvantages us.”

With tempers flaring, some judicial officers are already warning of possible strike action if the matter is not resolved quickly.