35 lawyers in the Uganda Police Force have sued government for failure to increase their salaries.
Last year, cabinet passed a resolution increasing the salaries of all lawyers working with government departments after a complaint by the Attorney General Kiddu Makubuya high staff turnover of government lawyers.
The public service provided five billion shillings to enhance the lawyer's salary packages. The increase in salary was effected in the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, the Law Reform Commission and the courts of juridicature. However, the police were omitted.
The police lawyers represented by Bashasha and Company Advocates want court to prevail upon government to increase the salaries of all lawyers in all government departments. They contend that the salary increment for only State Attorneys and Magistrates is irregular because all lawyers in public service have the same training and qualifications.
In February, the Inspector General of Police, Kale Kaihura, wrote to the Minister of Internal Affairs and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service seeking answers. He noted that under the police legal profession, a cadet assistant superintendent of police is equal to a State Attorney in the Ministry of Justice and that they deserve equal Pay.
After the Cabinet resolution State Attorneys' salaries were increased from 640,000 to 1.1 million shillings.
