Public officers set to retire in the 2025/2026 financial year have received crucial guidance on navigating life after service, following a one-day pre-retirement training organized by the government.
The hybrid event, held both in-person and online to accommodate participants from across the country, aimed to equip retirees with practical knowledge on financial planning, pension processes, and post-retirement well-being.
Opening the session, Acting Under Secretary for Finance and Administration, David Katabarwa, commended the officers for their years of service and urged them to approach retirement with optimism. “Retirement is not the end of the journey, but the beginning of a new, fulfilling chapter,” he said, emphasizing the value of early preparation.
One of the most anticipated sessions focused on pension and gratuity calculations, led by Adam Mugarura, Assistant Commissioner for Human Resource Compensation at the Ministry of Public Service. Using real-life examples, Mugarura walked participants through the process of determining their benefits and stressed the need to verify payments and follow up on required documentation.
Mugarura also highlighted the example of Dr. Bubikire Stanley, a former Ministry of Health official, as a model of purposeful living beyond formal employment. Additional sessions, led by retired public servant J.J. Ssonko and other facilitators, covered financial literacy, wellness, investment options, and maintaining social engagement after retirement.
Participants described the training as timely and empowering, noting that both the technical pension exercises and personal testimonies boosted their readiness for the next stage of life.
Officials say the training is part of a broader effort to ensure retirees transition smoothly into a dignified and rewarding post-service life, armed with the tools to manage their finances, health, and social well-being.