Teachers Among Major Beneficiaries as Gov’t Approves Shs9.9 Trillion Wage Bill
By Kyeyune Ali
The Government of Uganda, through the Ministry of Public Service, has approved a wage bill of Shs9.908 trillion for the 2026/2027 financial year, up from Shs8.621 trillion in the 2025/2026 financial year. This represents an increase of Shs1.088 trillion aimed at enhancing salaries for selected categories of public servants.
According to the Ministry of Public Service, the ministry remains central to ensuring that government institutions are properly structured, adequately staffed, performance-driven, and capable of delivering quality services to Ugandans.
As part of the new wage enhancements, teachers are among the major beneficiaries, with salary increments taking effect in the 2026/2027 financial year.
Primary school teachers holding Grade III certificates will see their monthly salaries rise from Shs499,684 to Shs700,000. Primary headteachers will receive an increase from Shs777,512 to Shs1,537,976 per month.
In secondary schools, arts teachers—who have long expressed concerns over earning less than their science counterparts—have also benefited from the salary enhancement. Arts headteachers will now earn Shs3,562,500 per month, up from Shs2,270,984.
The phased salary enhancement also covers several other public service categories, including:
Primary headteachers and deputy headteachers.
Secondary school headteachers and deputy headteachers.
Deputy Chief Administrative Officers.
Deputy City Town Clerks.
City Division Town Clerks.
Assistant Commissioners.
Heads of Department in local governments.
Mortuary operators.
X-ray attendants.
However, personnel in the Uganda Police Force, Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), Uganda Prisons Service, and other security agencies were not included in this phase of salary enhancement. The government says their salaries will be reviewed during the 2027/2028 financial year as part of its phased implementation plan.
Speaking on the management of the public wage bill, the Minister of Public Service, Gen. Katumba Wamala, stressed the need for discipline in recruitment and payroll management.
“I wish to emphasize that wage bill discipline remains a serious government priority. Recruitment will only be undertaken after clearance from the Ministry of Public Service, upon confirmation of both wage availability and vacancies on the approved establishment. Therefore, employees recruited without authority will not be cleared for access onto the payroll,” Gen. Katumba Wamala said.
On performance management, the minister noted that the public service is moving away from traditional and subjective staff appraisal methods to a Balanced Scorecard Framework, which is expected to improve accountability, enhance performance, and reduce corruption in public offices.