Judicial officers cry foul over govt U-turn on salary enhancement

All is not well in the judiciary, as deputy registrars, assistant registrars and chief magistrates blame the government for backtracking on an earlier resolution to increase their salaries.

On June 30, 2025, the ministry of Public Service released the Circular Standing Instruction (CSI) No.1 of 2025 that details the salary structures for the financial year 2025/2026. It appropriates Shs 8.5 trillion for the wage bill in FY 2025/2026, an increase of Shs 724 billion from the 2024/2025 financial year.

In the salary scale breakdown for judicial officers under courts of judicature, the monthly pay for deputy registrars was increased from Shs 12.5 million to 12.75 million, while that of assistant registrars rose from Shs 10.5 million to 12.75 million.

Meanwhile, chief magistrates’ salaries increased from Shs 9.8 million to Shs 12.75 million. The judiciary welcomed the move, which aligns with President Museveni’s ongoing commitment to raise the salaries of judicial officers.

Early this year, during the opening of the Annual Judges Conference, the president promised to increase the pay of judicial officers alongside scientists.

“On the issue of salaries, we are now in a position to do something for you, provided we break down this wastage. The target by the government is that our scientists and judicial officers should get comparable salaries with best practices in the region,” he said amidst clapping from the judicial officers in attendance.

However, the different groups of judicial officers were shocked to receive their July salaries without any increase.

ENTER BIGIRIMANA

Aggrieved, the officers petitioned Pius Bigirimana, the judiciary permanent secretary, to have the situation corrected. Then, on August 18, 2025, Bigirimana sent out a circular informing affected officers that the Public Service ministry had erred in increasing their salaries.

“In a meeting of top management held on August 13, 2025, salary enhancement of the deputy registrars, assistant registrars and chief magistrates was discussed. This followed a circular that had been issued on June 30, 2025, by the ministry of Public Service. The meeting was informed that the inclusion of the judicial officers in the circular was done in error because cabinet was specific on the categories whose salary was enhanced namely: chief administrative officers, undersecretaries, commissioners, city town clerks and municipal town clerks only,” reads part of his communication.

“The Cabinet neither discussed salary enhancement of judicial officers nor decided to enhance their salaries given the fact that the salaries of judicial officers had earlier been enhanced within the framework of the Administration of the Judiciary Act. The ministry of Public Service quickly noted their error, and on July 23, 2025, the permanent secretary, ministry of Public Service wrote to clarify on the matter. This circular is therefore issued to make the clarification as advised by ministry of Public Service and also to guide that judiciary will maintain the salary structure as approved by Cabinet Minute Extract No. 177 (CT 2021).”

Bigirimana’s communication has been met with consternation in the judiciary.

CONTROVERSIAL VARIATION

A member of the Public Service Commission who preferred anonymity said the judicial officers were struck off the list of increased salaries on grounds of being independent entities and, therefore, don’t qualify for the increment.

“Technically, they work under an independent body that is the judiciary, and it is the one with the mandate to increase their salaries, not the Public Service ministry,” said the source.

Under public service, chief magistrates fall under the category of commissioners, and in the June 30, 2025, Public Service circular standing order, all commissioners from independent institutions such as medical doctors, the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, the ministry of Justice, Uganda Police Force and Uganda Prisons Services, got a salary increment to Shs 12.75 million. So, a chief magistrate who preferred not to mention their name said the argument is flawed.

“This constitutes a variation of our salaries to our disadvantage, which is unconstitutional. For the record, Regulation 31 of the Administration of the Judiciary (Judiciary Service) Regulations, 2025, provides that salary increments in the Judiciary Service shall be determined by cabinet, taking into account the prevailing economic circumstances,” says the officer.

“Where do people get the argument that we [judicial officers] are independent and we are not supposed to get the increment? If we are independent, why do they still provide for us in the Public Service circular standing instruction? If the independence is to our disadvantage, we would be better off to go back to Public Service.”

It remains to be seen how the matter will be resolved, but indications show that the affected judicial officers may threaten to go on strike in the coming days.