“Not all local government public servants qualify for hard-to- reach allowance”- Minister Musasizi

What the report says

Uganda’s Minister of State for Finance, Henry Musasizi, has said that the hardship allowance for public servants in hard-to-reach local governments is not available to every worker in those areas. According to the statement he presented to Parliament, the payment is meant for officers posted to remote and underserved places where government has difficulty attracting and keeping staff, while civil servants based at district headquarters, cities and town councils in those designated areas are excluded.

Musasizi also told MPs that the allowance is calculated using 30% of the approved 2017/2018 salary structure, rather than each worker’s current pay. He said the policy was introduced under the Public Service Reform Programme to address staffing gaps in places affected by isolation, insecurity, weak infrastructure and limited access to basic services. The programme began on July 1, 2010, with 24 local governments initially covered.

The clarification came after lawmakers raised concerns that some communities facing serious access problems are not on the official list. MPs from Kabale, Bushenyi and Kaberamaido pointed to places where teachers and other public workers must travel by canoe or boat to reach schools and services. Musasizi said he would take those concerns to Cabinet for review.

He also addressed questions about tax deductions on councillors’ allowances, saying councillors with no other income should not be charged PAYE. He said the ministry would work with URA and local governments to correct inconsistent deductions and improve implementation of the rules.