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13 Arts teachers probed over salary anomalies
Bugweri Woman MP Rachael Magoola (centre) and other officials tour Naigombwa Seed SecondarySchool in May. One of the school’s teachers is under investigation over the salary irregularities. PHOTO/COURTESY
What you need to know:
- The irregularities have reportedly seen some of the teachers’ payslips altered to match salaries of their science counterparts.
The Bugweri chief administrative officer (CAO), Mr Nelson Kirenda, has directed the District Police Commander (DPC) to investigate 13 Arts secondary school teachers over suspected irregularities in the enhanced salaries.
They include Mr James Ayembe from Naigombwa Seed Secondary School, Ms Janipher Mamayi Musoba and Mr Ahmed Isabirye from Nkuutu Memorial Secondary School, Mr Hakim Isabirye, Ms Elizabeth Hope Alupo and Aramanzani Magoola from Makuutu Seed Secondary School.
Others are Mr Nelson Musenge, Mr Eria Mudhungu, and Mr Augustine Waiswa (Busembatia Secondary School), Mr Martin Kate, and Mr Charles Bituge (Bishop Willigers Secondary School), Mr Derrick Alifuna (Bubinga High School), and Mr Kusain Mugabi (Bulunguli Secondary School).
The anomalies have reportedly seen some teachers’ payslips altered to match salaries of their science counterparts, which were recently enhanced to Shs4m. Arts teachers earn about Shs800,000 per month.
“I have been notified by the human resource office that while they were verifying the salary payment schedules which were received from the Ministry of Public Service for September, they noticed a number of anomalies. These are related to some teachers who are not categorised as science teachers but were scheduled to receive payments for science teachers. I request you to urgently investigate the matter,” Mr Kirenda’s October 21 letter to the DPC reads in part. He also directed the human resource officer to withhold the salaries.
Ms Mamayi said they were told to resend their teaching subjects, teaching load and years of appointment.
“Why is it that it is mainly teachers of Geography who are affected? If they wanted to find out if we were involved, they would have first deposited the Shs4m on our accounts to see if we would not report the anomaly,” she said yesterday.
While she has since received Shs790, 000 as her September salary, the system still shows that she earns Shs4m.
Mr Alifuna said he was yet to receive summons from the CAO.
“I earn a gross of Shs1m, which comes to a net of about Shs790,000 and that is what I was paid for September. I am not aware of any investigations. Whatever errors were committed at the source have nothing to do with me,” he added.
Mr Isabirye declined to comment on the matter because it is still under investigation.
In an earlier interview, Mr Filbert Baguma, the Uganda National Teachers’ Union national chairperson, said if they discover that an Arts teacher has been getting the salary of a Science one, the government will recover the money.
He added: “Teachers should be careful to avoid being conned because the money you pay as a bribe will be deducted from your salary.”
Ms Munira Ali, the Inspectorate of Government spokesperson, said those affected should “report to us and we will take action”.
Finance speaks out
Mr Jim Mugunga, the Finance ministry spokesperson, said salaries are not tradable but an entitlement and the reason direct remittances to accounts were introduced was to fight corruption and ensure no one puts a claim or mortgage salary unwillingly apart from the beneficiary holder.
“The ministry levies zero charges directly or indirectly apart from the statutory ones on salary. This case refers to middlemen, there is no proof that our staff is involved."
“Cyber criminals have the capacity to dump money on targeted accounts; however, if this is correct, I highly recommend that the teacher reports this case to the nearest police CID office, CAO, and directly to the PSST through our established contact lines for appropriate action,” Mr Mugunga said.
