Government Deactivates 4,149 Employees from January Payroll Over Validation Irregularities

The Government of Uganda has deactivated 4,149 employees from the January 2025 payroll following a second-round validation and headcount exercise conducted by the Ministry of Public Service. This decision was communicated in an official letter dated January 16, 2025, signed by Mrs. Catherine Bitarakwate Musingwiire, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Service.

According to the letter, the validation exercise carried out from March 11 to June 28, 2024, revealed significant payroll irregularities that led to the Cabinet’s directive for immediate action. Mrs. Musingwiire highlighted the following key findings from the exercise:

1. Unaccounted Employees: 2,967 employees failed to report for the validation exercise, making their employment status unverifiable.
2. Ghost Workers: 15 individuals suspected to be ghost employees were discovered on the payroll.
3. Retirees and Resignees: 557 employees remained active on the payroll despite their retirement or resignation.
4. Absconders: 368 employees who had absconded from duty were still being paid.
5. Deceased Employees: 242 cases involved continued salary payments to deceased public officers.

The Permanent Secretary stated that these records have been deactivated as part of the government’s ongoing efforts to ensure accountability and eliminate inefficiencies in payroll management. She also outlined the requirements for reactivating any records deemed eligible, noting that employees must provide clearance letters signed by responsible officers, original identification documents, and other relevant credentials.

Mrs. Musingwiire further informed that the window for revalidation will run from January 20 to February 7, 2025, urging responsible officers and affected individuals to adhere to the guidelines outlined.

This action follows recommendations by the Office of the Auditor General to address irregular salary payments and strengthen public service accountability. The Ministry reiterated its commitment to improving payroll management for efficient public service delivery.