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UPDF pilots cry over ‘poor’ pay
The complaining young pilots are supposed to operate the newly-purchased fighter jets and other aircrafts.
Posted Saturday, April 21 2012 at 00:00
Uganda could continue losing newly- trained pilots for UPDF fighter planes if their remunerations are not revised upwards.
The pilots say their morale is totally down yet they are operating ‘complex’ jets.
So far, two of the eight trained pilots have left the airbase to look for greener pastures, prompting their counterparts in the Sukhoi Squadron,
to write a complaint letter to army commander in chief President Museveni.
In the letter, also copied to the Air force Commander, Brig. Jim Oweyesigire, and Commander Armed Forces Gen. Aronda Nyakayirima,
the group says they are paid only about five to 10 per cent of consolidated earnings that expatriate pilots in the same unit and in the commercial sector get.
Not encouraging
“A UPDF jet fighter pilot earns an average consolidated monthly pay of $500 (Shs1.2m) compared to a pilot in the commercial sector who earns between $8,000 (Shs19m) and $10,000 (Shs24m) while a co-pilot earns $5,000 (Shs12m) to $7,000 (Shs16m),” the September 2011 letter accessed by Saturday Monitor reads.
The pilots also expressed concern over the Ministry of Defence paying Russian experts flying helicopters a monthly salary of $8,000 (Shs19.2m), in addition to rent and medical allowances yet they don’t get the same.
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