The Electoral Commission (EC) is established under Article 60 and mandated under Article 61 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda.
One of its core values is to enable and facilitate free and fair elections and also regulate activities of all registered political parties in the land.
With a huge task ahead of it, EC would be one of the most highly funded government organisations and its officers well paid to allow them execute their duties with precision. But it is contrary.
According to leaked EC staff salary list which TrumpetNews obtained exclusively, the head of the commission, his deputy, secretary and commissioners all earn peanuts less than what a driver at city hall takes home at the end of the month.
It is no public secret that a driver of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) executive director Jenifer Musisi bags shs 7m monthly exclusive of tax and allowances.
While Musisi takes home over shs 40m. She justified her ‘abnormal’ salary payment saying that low pay tempts workers to engage in criminality like corruption.
One wonders whether it is Musisi or EC chairman that does a more tempting job.
Former EC head Eng Badru Kiggundi decried of low pay but Ministry of Public Service never heeded to his concerns until he retired.
His successor Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama who sworn in recently has already expressed discontent over the same matter insisting that low pay places staff in a very daring and compromising situation.
Salaries
According to the list, the EC chairman earns shs 8457300 gross and after taxes Byabakama takes home shs 4m while his deputy Hajati Aisha Lubega earns shs 8157300 gross.
The five commissioners; Peter Emorut, Steven Tashobya, Nathaline Etomaru, Mustapha Ssebaggala Kigozi and Justin A. Mugabi each walks with shs 8007300 monthly while the secretary Sam Rwakoojo (accounting officer) bags shs 5m inclusive of tax.
The director of finance earns shs 4m, heads of departments like procurement, contracts committee, public relations walk away with shs 2152000.
Principle officers are paid shs 1930000, senior officers get shs 1300000 while principle assistant election officer earns shs 1298609.
Senior assistant election officer (1) takes shs 1159038 and senior assistant election officer (2) is paid shs 881626.
Assistant officer is paid shs 708988, clerical secretariat bags shs 54735, election assistant takes 423012 and drivers earn shs 355764.