Uganda has released the 2026/27 public service salary structure, with scientists, teachers, legal officers and specialised technical professionals receiving some of the biggest pay adjustments.
The new pay structure is contained in Circular Standing Instruction No. 3 of 2026, issued by the Ministry of Public Service. It guides salary payments across ministries, departments, agencies, local governments and other public institutions.
The revised salaries take effect from July 1, 2026.
The implementation follows Parliament’s approval of the 2026/27 national budget. The budget allocated Shs 9.7 trillion to the public sector wage bill, about Shs 1.1 trillion more than the previous financial year.
During budget scrutiny, Parliament’s budget committee reviewed salary enhancement proposals for scientists, teachers, health workers, judicial officers, security personnel, resident district commissioners and other public servants.
However, the committee also warned that the phased salary enhancement programme should address wider disparities across the public service.
Scientists and legal officers get major increases
Scientists and specialised technical professionals remain central to the government’s salary enhancement policy.
Chief state attorneys are among the major beneficiaries. Their monthly pay has increased from about Shs 8.6 million to Shs 12.8 million.
Senior commissioners in scientific cadres within the security services have also moved from about Shs 8.6 million to Shs 12.8 million.
Other specialised science officers in the Uganda Police Force and Uganda Prisons Service have also been moved to higher salary scales.
The government has in recent years prioritised scientists and specialised professionals in health, education, engineering and security. It says better pay is needed to attract and retain skilled workers in critical sectors.
Officials have linked the policy to Uganda’s industrialisation and socio-economic transformation agenda.
However, the approach has continued to attract criticism from arts teachers, local government leaders and other public servants. Critics argue that it has widened salary gaps within the public service.
Primary teachers and school administrators receive pay rise
The education sector has also received further salary adjustments.
Education assistants, commonly known as Grade III teachers in primary schools, will now earn about Shs 700,000 per month. Their previous salary was about Shs 500,000.
Head teachers’ salaries have increased from about Shs 1 million to Shs 1.5 million. Deputy head teachers will now earn about Shs 1.4 million, up from about Shs 750,000.
Science teachers will continue to earn significantly more than arts teachers under the government’s differentiated pay policy.
Science teachers remain on salary levels above Shs 4 million. Arts education officers have received increments of about Shs 500,000, although many still earn below Shs 2 million per month.
Commissioners move to higher pay scales
In the mainstream public service, assistant commissioners and deputy commissioners have received some of the largest increases.
Assistant commissioners’ monthly salaries have risen from about Shs 1.6 million to Shs 6.5 million. 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. Principal officers have moved to about Shs 4.5 million.
However, many graduate professionals on the U4 salary scale still earn below Shs 1 million per month. This highlights the pay gaps that remain across the public service.
RDCs and presidential advisors remain unchanged
The approved structure does not increase salaries for resident district commissioners and some political leaders.
RDCs will continue earning about Shs 2.3 million per month. Deputy RDCs remain on about Shs 1.3 million, while assistant RDCs will continue receiving about Shs 820,000.
Senior presidential advisors will continue earning about Shs 2.4 million per month. Presidential advisors also remain on approximately the same salary.
The decision comes days after Bardege-Layibi MP Martin Ojara Mapenduzi called for better pay for local government political leaders.
Mapenduzi argued that district chairpersons, councillors and other elected local leaders carry heavy responsibilities but continue to earn modest salaries and allowances.
He said the situation affects morale and service delivery.
The latest salary structure suggests those concerns will not be addressed in the current phase. Government has maintained its focus on scientists and specialised professionals.
Salary structure applies across public institutions
The circular applies to employees in 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 wage budgets from July 1, 2026.
Key salary adjustments for 2026/27
| 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 | 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 |
The biggest winners are scientists, legal officers, specialised technical professionals, commissioners and primary school administrators.
RDCs, presidential advisors, many graduate officers on the U4 scale and several non-science public servants have received little or no change.
