Is salary disparity among public service officials justifiable?

I have been following up on a report about remuneration to officials in the public service, statutory bodies and other government agencies. In Uganda, for instance, the report puts the Permanent Secretary’s gross salary at Ush2665760 (US$1418), which is the lowest compared to remuneration for heads of organization in other government statutory bodies. At a gross salary of Ushs8596100 (US$4572), URA’s Commissioner General is the highest earning public servant. This, nevertheless, sharply contrasts with the Third National Integrity Survey carried out by the office of the IGG in 2008, placing URA’s Commissioner General’s gross salary at Ush28 million (US$14894).

Why do some officials say, in Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), National Drug Authority (NDA), Uganda Coffeer Development Authority (UCDA) earn more, while a Permanent Secretary, and other officials in ministries earn, even eight times less?

As to whether the level of remuneration determines productivity or efficiency at the work place or whether it fans corruption, begs many questions. Whilst low pay for public officials tends to drive them into corrupt tendencies, the best remunerating institutions like Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and the National Drug Authority (NDA) have been ranked as some of the most corrupt and inefficient according media, Transparency International and Afro barometer reports.

Interestingly, the highest earning official, with whopping Ushs28million (US$14894), sits at Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), despite URA being ranked the second most corrupt institution in Uganda this year by Transparency International.

Which is the way forward on this? Should public officials on the same rank be awarded equal remunerations?