Inside sources within the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) confirm that every judge appointed to the commission is set to gets Shs 20m in monthly allowances in addition to a monthly salary take home of Shs 23m each judge earns.
According to a letter addressed to all JSC members which our investigative team managed to snoop on, Public Service Minister Muruli Mukasa confirmed to each member that, “you will be paid a fixed retainer allowance of Shs 20m per month.”
Muruli added: “You will be entitled to a siting allowance for every sitting of the Commission in accordance with the existing rates and salaries and allowances (specified officer) Act Cap 291, the Uganda Public Service standing orders, 2010 and circular standing instructions issued from time to time.”
On top of the Shs 20m retainer, for every sitting at JSC, each participant earns Shs 1m.
This means a judge on JSC earns Shs 43m per month in salary and retainer allowances. If one attends 10 JSC meetings per month, the earnings rise to Shs 53m.
The members of JSC are Deputy Chief Justice Richard Butera, Justice Faith Mwondha (deputy chairperson), Dr Laban Kirya (representing public service), Ms Rosemary Nyakikongoro and Ms Christine Amongin Aporu, (both representing the public), Ms Ruth Sebatindira and Ms Norah Matovu Winyi (both representing the Uganda Law Society) and the Attorney General as the ex-officio.
Judiciary spokesperson Solomon Muyita was not readily available for comment when contacted on Tuesday afternoon before posting this article
The development is likely to raise eyebrows considering that judges’ salaries were recently increased to enable them cope with the increased cost of living and live decent lives.
According to the new salary structure released by the Ministry of Public Service, the High Court judge’s pay was increased from Shs9m to Shs17.55m
A Court of Appeal/ Constitutional Court Justice is now pocketing a monthly salary of Shs17.9m up from Shs9.3m.
Likewise, a Supreme Court justice is now earning Shs18.3m up from Shs9.6m.
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