The Ministry of Public service has today began carrying out a census and verification of all the pensioners at the ministry headquarters in Kampala.
The exercise that kicked off on the 20th of January is intended to update the government records and help to deal with the issue of “ghost pensioners” that has for long become a pungent smell in the ministry.
Ministry of public service has confirmed 20,000 of the over 70,000 people eligible to receive their retirements benefits as pension.
If one is a citizen of Uganda, above 50 years of age and has been employed in public service then probably that person has been receiving the citizen’s retirement benefit as pension.
This is enshrined within the country’s laws. The Pension’s Act of 1946 was set to provide for the grant and regulating of pensions, gratuities and other allowances in respect of the public service of officers under the government of Uganda.
The pension fee is arrived at by calculating the length of one’s service, multiplied by the annual salary and then dividing it by 500. Officials from the ministry of public service say this process will be carried out countrywide.
According to the officials, 57 districts have so far been covered and 10 will be covered today.The pensioners are requested to posses their national ID for verification.
However the ministry of public service received overwhelming numbers than they expected here in Kampala.
In Uganda, mandatory retirement age is 60 years but early retirement is considered at 45 years of age. For one to be eligible for pension at early retirement, you must have worked for 20 years