Prosecutors have today resumed their strike after the elapse of three months when they voted to suspend the industrial action following government’s pledge to increase their salaries and improve on their working conditions.
Under their umbrella Uganda Association of Prosecutors (UAP), they in July agreed to suspend the strike for a period of 90 days after the government agreed to sort out their grievances.
According to the UAP President David Baxter Bakibinga, they had to go on strike again till government address their concerns.
“In a fortnight to the elapsing of the 90 days ultimatum, the Association reminded government about similar issue however till now we have not received feedback,” Mr. Bakibinga said.
Bakibinga noted that their salary is too little given the fact that State Attorneys handle complicated cases like terrorism and murder yet their ‘salary is less than what a tea girl at KCCA earns’.
He added: “To a gain suspend this strike, we shall petition the general assembly to vote on either to suspend or continue with the strike after receiving government response.”
Under the current salary structures, the lowest ranking state prosecutor earns a gross salary of Shs644, 963 a month with the highest paid prosecutor at the rank of Senior Principal State Attorney taking a gross monthly pay of Shs2.1 million. The Deputy DPP is paid Shs2.9 million while Assistant DPP earns Shs2.4 million.
Last month judicial officers also suspended their strike till December 11, after government pledged to provide them with security, transport and office equipment as it tries to effect salary enhancement and harmonisation across the board.