The Lamwo District Executive Committee has directed the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to urgently handle the pending pension and gratuity claims of former district employees, following growing public concern over delayed payments.
The directive was issued during a recent stakeholders’ meeting held at the district headquarters.
Odur Justine Peace, the Secretary for Production, Marketing and Natural Resources in Lamwo District Local Government, said complaints regarding unpaid pension and gratuity have become a persistent concern in the district.
He cited the case of Wilfred Otono, a retired staff member who has reportedly made several follow-ups at district offices seeking clarity on his entitlements.
Odur emphasised the need for proper documentation of all former employees who served the district diligently prior to retirement.
He noted that compiling a verified list of eligible beneficiaries would help streamline the processing of their payments and ensure transparency.
“We need a clear record of all those who served the district and retired in accordance with the law so that they are duly considered for their pension and gratuity,” he said.
In response, Chuna Moses Kapolon, the Chief Administrative Officer of Lamwo District, acknowledged the concerns raised and assured stakeholders that his office is committed to addressing the matter.
He stated that once the list of beneficiaries is finalized and verified, the district will take the necessary administrative steps to process the claims.
Legal framework governing pension and gratuity
Payment of pension and gratuity for public servants in local governments is governed by several laws and regulations in Uganda: The Constitution of the Republic of Uganda (1995), Article 254 – provides that a public officer has a right to pension as prescribed by law.
The Pensions Act (Cap 286) – sets out the legal framework for the grant and regulation of pensions and gratuities to public officers. It outlines eligibility criteria, computation of benefits, and administrative procedures.
The Local Governments Act, Cap 138 – mandates district local governments to manage human resource functions, including records of employees, in line with national laws and policies.
The Public Service Standing Orders (2010, as amended) – provide operational guidelines on retirement procedures, documentation requirements, and processing of pension and gratuity claims.
Under the law, pension is a monthly payment made to a retired public officer who has completed the required years of service, while gratuity is a lump-sum payment granted either upon retirement or at the end of a contractual term, depending on the terms of service.
District local governments are required to submit accurate payroll and service records to the Ministry of Public Service to facilitate verification and payment through the centralized pension system.
The Lamwo district Chairperson, Oyet Sisto Ocen, urged the district leadership to expedite verification processes to ease the financial hardships faced by retired civil servants awaiting their entitlements.
The issue of delayed pension payments has remained a national concern, with the government repeatedly pledging reforms to improve efficiency, eliminate ghost beneficiaries, and ensure that retirees receive their benefits in a timely manner.
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