The government has released the 2026/27 public service salary structure, maintaining its policy of prioritising scientists, teachers and specialised technical professionals.
The revised pay structure is contained in Circular Standing Instruction (CSI) No. 3 of 2026, issued by the ministry of Public Service to guide salary implementation across ministries, departments, agencies, local governments and other public institutions with effect from July 1, 2026.
The implementation follows parliament’s approval of the 2026/27 national budget, in which Shs 9.7 trillion was allocated to the public sector wage bill, an increase of about Shs 1.1 trillion from the previous financial year.
During scrutiny of the budget, parliament’s budget committee considered proposals for salary enhancements covering scientists, teachers, health workers, judicial officers, security personnel, resident district commissioners (RDCs) and other public servants.
However, the committee cautioned that the phased salary enhancement programme should eventually address disparities across the wider public service.
As in previous financial years, scientists and specialised technical professionals remain the biggest beneficiaries of the latest salary review.
Among the most significant adjustments are chief state attorneys, whose monthly salaries have increased from about Shs 8.6 million to Shs 12.8 million.
Senior commissioners in scientific cadres within the security services have also seen their salaries rise from about Shs 8.6 million to Shs 12.8 million, while other specialised science officers in the Uganda Police Force and Uganda Prisons Service have also moved to higher salary scales.
The latest adjustments are consistent with the government’s salary enhancement policy introduced in recent years, which prioritises scientists and other specialised professionals in sectors such as health, education, engineering and security.
The government says improved remuneration is necessary to attract and retain skilled personnel in critical fields that are central to Uganda’s industrialisation and socio-economic transformation agenda.
The policy has, however, drawn criticism from arts teachers, local government leaders and other public servants, who argue that it has widened salary disparities within the public service.
The education sector has also received further salary enhancements. Education assistants (Grade III teachers) in primary schools will now earn about Shs 700,000 per month, up from about Shs 500,000.
Head teachers’ salaries have increased from about Shs 1 million to Shs 1.5 million, while deputy head teachers will now earn about Shs 1.4 million, up from about Shs 750,000.
Science teachers continue to earn substantially more than their counterparts teaching arts subjects under the government’s differentiated salary policy. While arts education officers have received salary increments of about Shs 500,000, many still earn less than Shs 2 million per month compared to science teachers, whose salaries exceed Shs 4 million.
In the mainstream public service, assistant commissioners and deputy commissioners have received some of the largest increases. Assistant commissioners’ salaries have risen from about Shs 1.6 million to Shs 6.5 million per month, while deputy commissioners have moved from about Shs 1.8 million to Shs 6.5 million.
Commissioners will now earn about Shs 12.5 million per month, while principal officers have moved to about Shs 4.5 million. However, many graduate professionals on the U4 salary scale continue to earn less than Shs 1 million per month, underscoring the salary disparities that remain within the public service.
Although the government had proposed salary enhancements for RDCs and other political leaders, the approved salary structure leaves their pay unchanged. RDCs will continue earning about Shs 2.3 million per month, while deputy RDCs remain on about Shs 1.3 million and assistant RDCs on about Shs 820,000.
Similarly, senior presidential advisors will continue earning about Shs 2.4 million per month, while presidential advisors remain on approximately the same salary.
The decision comes days after Bardege-Layibi MP Martin Ojara Mapenduzi called for improved remuneration for local government political leaders.
He argued that district chairpersons, councillors and other elected local leaders shoulder significant responsibilities but continue to earn modest salaries and allowances, a situation he said undermines morale and service delivery.
The latest salary structure suggests those concerns will have to wait as government continues to prioritise salary enhancements for scientists and specialised professionals under its phased salary review programme.
The circular applies to employees across the traditional public service, local governments, education, health, police, prisons, the judiciary, legal services, aviation, intelligence agencies and constitutional institutions.
The Ministry of Public Service has directed all accounting officers to implement the approved salary scales within their respective wage budgets with effect from July 1, 2026.
Key salary adjustments in the 2026/27 financial year
| Position/Cadre | Previous Monthly Salary | New Monthly Salary | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chief State Attorney | Shs 8.6m | Shs 12.8m | +Shs 4.2m |
| Senior Commissioner (Scientific Cadres – Security) | Shs 8.6m | Shs 12.8m | +Shs 4.2m |
| Commissioner | – | Shs 12.5m | Increased |
| Deputy Commissioner | Shs 1.8m | Shs 6.5m | +Shs 4.7m |
| Assistant Commissioner | Shs 1.6m | Shs 6.5m | +Shs 4.9m |
| Principal Officer | — | Shs 4.5m | Increased |
| Science Teacher | Above Shs 4m | Above Shs 4m | Maintained at higher scale |
| Arts Education Officer | Below Shs 1.5m | Below Shs 2m | About +Shs 500,000 |
| Education Assistant (Grade III) | Shs 500,000 | Shs 700,000 | +Shs 200,000 |
| Head Teacher (Art) | Shs 1.0m | Shs 1.5m | +Shs 500,000 |
| Deputy Head Teacher (Art) | Shs 750,000 | Shs 1.4m | +Shs 650,000 |
| Resident District Commissioner (RDC) | Shs 2.3m | Shs 2.3m | No change |
| Deputy RDC | Shs 1.3m | Shs 1.3m | No change |
| Assistant RDC | Shs 820,000 | Shs 820,000 | No change |
| Senior Presidential Advisor | Shs 2.4m | Shs 2.4m | No change |
| Presidential Advisor | Shs 2.4m | Shs 2.4m | No change |
| Graduate Professional (U4 Scale) | Below Shs 1m | Below Shs 1m | Largely unchanged |
Major winners: Scientists, legal officers, specialised technical professionals, commissioners and primary school administrators.
Little or no change: Political leaders (RDCs, presidential advisors), many graduate officers on U4 salary scale, and several non-science public servants
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