Health 12 March 2026 The Observer (Uganda)
Government Questions Value from Doctors' Salary Increases Amid Dual Jobs and Absenteeism
Uganda's government officials have criticized the lack of improved service delivery despite substantial salary hikes for doctors, pointing to widespread dual employment and absenteeism among senior specialists. New health service standards and a client charter aim to enforce accountability and better performance in public hospitals. Source: https://observer.ug/news/no-value-for-money-from-enhanced-doctors-pay-govt
Uganda’s deputy head of Public Service for performance and service delivery, Jane Kyarisima Mwesiga, has voiced frustration over the government’s failure to see returns on enhanced doctors’ salaries. Despite raises implemented in the 2018/19 financial year—bringing medical consultants’ pay to around Shs 12.7 million monthly and senior specialists to Shs 17.4 million—service quality in public health facilities remains poor.
Kyarisima highlighted rampant dual employment, with high-paid senior specialists frequently absent from public hospitals while working in private ones. She made these remarks during the launch of the Ministry of Health’s Client Charter and Health Service Delivery Standards, set to guide sector performance through 2030.
The standards specify minimum service levels, quality, and timelines from village health teams to national referral hospitals. The Client Charter outlines patient rights, obligations, and complaint mechanisms, with hospitals required to adapt their own versions.
Health Ministry Permanent Secretary Dr. Diana Atwine emphasized an ongoing crackdown on consultants moonlighting in private facilities while drawing government pay. She stressed that recruitment alone won’t suffice without output measurement and accountability, especially amid Auditor General reports revealing severe staffing shortages, like Mulago Hospital operating at just 34% capacity and up to 90% gaps in critical care.
These tools will also evaluate permanent secretaries’ performance and include citizen satisfaction surveys to boost accountability in public health services.