ENTEBBE – President Yoweri Museveni has vowed to crack down on scientists exploiting the government’s salary enhancement strategy by issuing an executive order. This decision was announced during a high-stakes meeting with Permanent Secretaries at State House, Entebbe, on October 17, 2024.
The President expressed concern that some scientists are taking advantage of the enhanced salary package by seeking early retirement, thereby depriving the country of their expertise. Museveni emphasized that scientists who opt for early retirement will not receive the enhanced retirement benefits.
“The law should be clear that there should be no early retirement especially for the ones who have got an enhanced package. With an enhanced package, you should serve your term. They will not get that package. I’m going to write an executive order,” Museveni warned.
The meeting also focused on socio-economic transformation, with Museveni stressing the importance of commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services, and ICT in driving Uganda’s growth. He commended the Permanent Secretaries for aligning with the National Resistance Movement’s (NRM) vision and urged them to work towards realizing the four principles of patriotism, Pan-Africanism, socio-economic transformation, and democracy.
“This society must undergo socio-economic transformation. So, when the permanent secretaries and the top technocrats of the country understand this, it’s very good, and I’m very happy about that,” the President noted.
Museveni also informed the Permanent Secretaries that the economy of Uganda had been able to grow progressively due to the correct ideology of the NRM government.
“In our 10-point programme, we said for Uganda, we are going to use a strategy of a mixed economy. We may have some parastatals but the main economy will be in private hands so we moved from those mistakes of Obote, Amin and we gave the economy to the population that is why it is growing in spite of all the problems like corruption.”
Museveni cautioned the Permanent Secretaries against corruption and mismanagement, emphasizing their lead role in managing government funds, personnel, and procurement. “On corruption, you have the lead role because you are the one in charge of government money, personnel and procurement, constitutionally,” he said.
Ramathan Ggoobi, Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury, represented the Forum for Permanent Secretaries and pledged support for Museveni’s socio-economic transformation efforts.
“The Permanent Secretaries wish to commit to supporting your efforts in promoting Uganda’s socio-economic transformation through effective implementation of the various wealth creation programs, specifically the Parish Development Model to ensure full monetisation of the economy,” Ggoobi said.
Ggoobi also highlighted issues hindering wealth creation, development, and service delivery, including corruption in the procurement system. “One of the issues is the corruption in the current procurement system which is riddled with several avenues of corruption which make the government lose huge sums of money, well knowing that most of our work is done through procurement,” Ggoobi noted.
