BREAKING NEWS!! Local Government Workers Union Petitions Parliament Over Wage Gaps and Salary Delays

Local Government workers across Uganda, under their umbrella body—the Uganda Local Government Workers’ Union (ULGWU)—have formally petitioned Parliament over what they describe as years of neglect, broken promises, and unfair treatment. The petition, tabled by Workers’ Member of Parliament Hon. Dr. Byakatonda Abdulhu, details how government has consistently failed to honor its commitments, leaving thousands of dedicated staff underpaid, overlooked, and demoralized.

At the heart of the petition lies the issue of salary disparities. In the 2018 Collective Bargaining Agreement, government committed to phased salary enhancements across all categories of public servants. However, only select groups—scientists, doctors, and engineers—received substantial increases, now earning between four and eight million shillings. Meanwhile, equally qualified local government workers, including planners, finance officers, auditors, and community development officers, remain stuck earning below one million shillings. Workers argue this selective implementation has bred discrimination, division, and widespread frustration within the civil service.

The petition further raises concerns about the long-standing problem of delayed promotions. Many local government employees have remained in the same grade for over a decade, with some even retiring without ever being promoted. Such stagnation, they say, has crushed morale and left hardworking officers feeling abandoned. Worse still, cases of favoritism have been reported—where relatives of politicians are promoted and posted at district headquarters despite lacking qualifications—while competent officers are sidelined. Petitioners warn that this practice undermines meritocracy and tarnishes the credibility of service delivery.

Another grievance is government’s failure to fully implement the check-off system, which enables automatic deduction and remittance of union dues. Despite directives from the Ministry of Public Service, many local governments have not complied, weakening the union financially and crippling its ability to safeguard workers’ rights. This, the petitioners say, is a violation of constitutional rights to association and collective bargaining, as well as international labour standards.

The workers caution that continued neglect will jeopardize the success of flagship government programs such as the Parish Development Model, the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme, the Youth Livelihood Programme, and the Senior Citizens’ Grant. They note that while local government staff are the frontline implementers of these initiatives, their morale has reached its lowest point due to systemic unfairness.

As remedies, the petitioners want Parliament to urgently restore the check-off system, extend salary enhancements to all local government workers in the 2025/2026 financial year, and clear arrears dating back to 2018. They also demand a transparent promotion policy to address career stagnation, alongside legislation to close the extreme pay gaps between the highest and lowest earners in public service. Above all, they seek the revival and enforcement of the 2018 Collective Bargaining Agreement to ensure fair treatment of all public servants.

In their concluding appeal, the workers stress that they are not asking for favors but for fairness. They argue that those who dedicate their lives to public service deserve equal recognition, dignity, and opportunities for career growth. Through this petition, Uganda’s local government workers are making a firm call for justice, inclusivity, and the rebuilding of trust between government and its frontline staff.