The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs General Kahinda Otafiire has said that the increment of salaries of judges and state attorneys will not necessarily end corruption in Uganda’s justice system.
According to the Minister, circumstances have shown that public and civil servants who were taking home reasonable money are the same people battling corruption charges at Anti-Corruption court in Kololo, not those who are paid peanuts.
The General made the controversial remarks while appearing before the Committee of Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Wednesday where he was presenting the Ministry’s Budget Framework paper for 2018/19.
He pointed out examples of former National Social Security Fund Executive Director, Chandi Jamwa and former Principal Accountant at the Office of Prime Minister Godfrey Kazinda who were found guilty of embezzling funds by court.
“I doubt that increasing these salaries will end corruption because most of the people who are paid highly are the ones at Anti-Corruption court like this man Kazinda and Jamwa,” Kahinda said.
This followed a question raised by MP Paul Akamba, who demanded an explanation on why salary enhancement of the judges and state attorneys hadn’t been provided for in the 2018/2019 national budget projections.
Kahinda revealed that the issue of salary increment is being handled by the salary review commission saying; “Government took over the problem of salary because it is not only judiciary. We have come up with a payment structure and what is remaining is the Public Service streamlining the payment structure.”
In the budget framework paper, the Ministry is facing a funding gap of Shs2B that will be used in payment of wages for 142 new recruited staff.
During the meeting, the MPs raised concerns over the ever increasing court awards that have risen from Shs249Billion in 2012/2013 to Shs680Billion in 2015/2016.
MPs wondered why the Ministry hasn’t put in place a law to deal with court awards and compensations to solve the ever escalating bill on the subject.
In his response, the Solicitor General Francis Atoke said the Ministry has no powers stopping people from going to court, where they are awarded saying this is as a result of people being enlighten about their rights.
