Senior Uganda Police Force officials have raised concern over delays in the payment of pensions to retired police officers.

The concern was raised during a meeting between the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee and Uganda Police Force officials led by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, James Ochaya.

The meeting, chaired by Public Accounts Committee Chairperson Patrick Nsamba Oshabe, focused on challenges affecting the timely payment of pensions to retired public servants.

Nsamba questioned why the government continues to delay pension payments despite knowing from the time employees are recruited that they are entitled to pension benefits upon retirement.

He proposed the introduction of a system under which public servants would automatically transition from the government payroll to the pension payment system immediately upon retirement, eliminating delays between the two processes.

Nsamba also dismissed concerns over mismatched credentials among some police officers, saying such issues should not be used as a basis for indefinitely withholding pension payments.

He urged the government to develop practical solutions to verification challenges and ensure that retired officers and other public servants receive their pension benefits promptly.

By Francis Lubega