EDITOR
Retired civil servants from the Kigezi sub-region have called on the government to urgently review and increase their pension and gratuity payments to match the current cost of living and inflation trends.
Operating under the umbrella of the Greater Kigezi Pensioners Association, the retirees accuse the government of neglecting their welfare and mismanaging retirement benefits. They have petitioned the Ministry of Public Service and Cabinet Affairs, expressing frustration over delayed and unrevised payments that have persisted for years.
According to the association’s chairperson, Silver Baguma, they petitioned the ministry over five years ago, seeking an increment to align their payments with inflation. However, they have not received any response or action from the authorities.
Evalyne Katushabe, a retiree from Rukiga District, criticized the government for treating pensioners unfairly compared to serving public officers, despite their long and dedicated service to the nation.
Similarly, David Byamugisha, Chairperson of the Kabale Municipality Pensioners, lamented the prolonged delays in the release of retirement benefits, noting that many pensioners die before receiving their entitlements.
When contacted for a comment, Joram Tibasiimwa, the Western Region Member of Parliament representing the elderly, said that they have continued to engage the government on the matter, but officials often cite limited funds as the reason for inaction.
Under Uganda’s Pensions Act, Chapter 286, any individual who has served in the public service for at least ten years is entitled to pension benefits upon retirement. Pensioners, however, insist that the government must take swift action to ensure their benefits reflect the current economic realities.
