The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | GODFREY SSALI | Business was Tuesday paralyzed in Courts across the country as all state prosecutors under the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) resumed their strike over low pay and poor working conditions.
Three 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.
According to the salary structure for Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) approved by President Yoweri Museveni, the lowest paid employee (tea girl) earns sh1.1m per month.
Court Business affected, Kaweesi Murder suspects further remanded
The 23 people accused of killing former Police spokesperson, Andrew Felix Kaweesi, have been further remanded without knowing the status of the investigations in their case due to the current strike by state prosecutors.
The accused were produced before Nakawa Grade one Magistrate Noah Sajjabi who informed them that state prosecutors had gone on strike.
Besigye’s case against UBC flops
Hearing of a case in which former FDC presidential candidate Dr. Kiiza Besigye is suing Uganda Broadcasting Corporation, (UBC) for refusing to run his 2011 campaign messages also flopped before the High Court in Kampala, after UBC lawyer Kiryowa Kiwanuka did not show up.
Justice Margaret Oguli had scheduled the case for hearing today but UBC lawyer was reportedly sick, an issue that angered Besigye whose concern is that the case is taking long in Court having filed it in 2011.
Besigye wants a refund of 21 million shillings he paid to the National broadcaster to run his campaign adverts.
Besigye also wants an injunction restraining UBC from discrimination particularly basing on people’s political affiliations.
He also sued UBC’s former Managing Director Edward Musinguzi, who allegedly received the money from Besigye’s media agent- Big ideas to run over 200 spot messages for his 2011 presidential campaigns but none-was run.
