Primary teachers with certificates to earn Shs 700,000 per month under new wage structure

The government has increased salaries for selected categories of public servants in the 2026/27 financial year as part of a wider effort to reduce pay disparities in the public service.

Under the new salary structure, primary school teachers with certificate qualifications will earn Sh 700,000 per month, up from Sh 490,000. Graduate primary school teachers will see their monthly salaries increase to Sh1.3 million, while primary school headteachers will now earn Sh3 million.

The minister of Public Service, Gen Edward Katumba Wamala, said the government has allocated Sh 9.708 trillion for the public service wage bill in the 2026/27 financial year. This is an increase from Sh8.621 trillion allocated in the 2025/26 financial year.

Katumba said the current wage bill is more than double the Sh 4.21 trillion that was allocated in the 2018/19 financial year, when the government adopted its long-term public service pay policy and salary enhancement plan.

He said the increased wage bill will cater for salaries of staff already in service, recruitment into critical positions, and phased salary enhancement for selected categories of public officers.

Among those expected to benefit are city division town clerks, deputy city town clerks, assistant commissioners, and other public officers identified under the government’s salary enhancement programme.

Katumba acknowledged concerns raised by sections of public servants over salary disparities but said the government will continue implementing salary enhancements in phases because of limited resources.

He urged public servants to use their increased salaries responsibly by embracing a culture of saving instead of unnecessary spending.

“My message to Ugandans is to avoid unnecessary expenditure simply because your salaries have increased. Learn how to save. Every shilling is important, depending on how you use it. Develop a saving culture,” Katumba said.

On the issue of medical interns, Katumba said discussions over their allowances are still ongoing.

He explained that the government’s earlier decision to remove the proposed Sh1 million payment for medical interns was referred back to the Office of the Prime Minister for further review.

According to Katumba, the government is reconsidering whether the allowance should be reinstated, although no final decision has yet been made.