Uganda’s Local Government workers, through the Uganda Local Government Workers’ Union (ULGWU), have formally petitioned Parliament over years of neglect, broken promises, and perceived discrimination in pay and working conditions. The petition, dated 25th August 2025 and addressed to the Rt. Hon. Anita Annet Among, Speaker of Parliament, was presented by Workers’ MP, Hon. Dr. Byakatonda Abdulhu (PhD). It was received and registered by the Office of the Clerk to Parliament on 28th August 2025 under Rule 58 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament, with copies also sent to the Deputy Speaker and Clerk for urgent attention.
At the heart of the grievance is salary inequality. The union notes that under the 2018 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the government promised phased salary increases for all public servants. However, only select groups—scientists, doctors, engineers, judicial officers, and arts teachers—have benefited, earning between UGX 4 million and UGX 8 million per month. Meanwhile, equally qualified local government professionals such as planners, auditors, finance officers, and community development officers continue to earn less than UGX 1 million. The union calls this disparity unfair, divisive, and demoralizing, arguing that selective CBA implementation violates workers’ rights, undermines equity, and fuels resentment.
The petition also points to the failure to implement the union check-off system, which allows automatic deduction and remittance of subscription fees. Despite directives from the Ministry of Public Service, many local governments have refused to comply. This has weakened the union’s financial independence, reduced workers’ bargaining power, and violated both the Constitution of Uganda and international labor standards on freedom of association and collective bargaining.
Stalled promotions are another key issue. Thousands of local government staff have remained in the same grade for over a decade, with some retiring without ever being promoted, while politically connected individuals advance regardless of merit. According to the union, this practice has eroded morale, entrenched favoritism, and lowered efficiency in service delivery.
The petition links these grievances to a broader culture of mismanagement and inequality. While local government staff earn meagre salaries, Members of Parliament, many with only A-Level qualifications, earn over UGX 37 million per month alongside allowances, foreign trips, and other perks. Meanwhile, billions of shillings are spent on projects such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and the Lubowa Specialized Hospital, which the union says have become channels for corruption rather than tools for development.
ULGWU warns that unless the government addresses these concerns, flagship programs like the Parish Development Model, Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme, Youth Livelihood Programme, and Senior Citizens’ Grant risk failure. These initiatives depend on the commitment and motivation of frontline local government staff, who currently feel ignored and demoralized.
In their petition, workers demand the immediate reinstatement of the union check-off system across all local governments, extension of salary increases to all local government staff in the 2025/2026 financial year, payment of salary arrears dating back to 2018 under the CBA, implementation of a transparent merit-based promotion policy, and legislation to curb extreme wage disparities in the public service.
The petition emphasizes that local government workers are not asking for favors but for fairness, recognition, and respect for their legal rights. By taking their grievances to Parliament, Uganda’s local government workers are sending a clear call for justice, inclusivity, and restoration of trust between government and its workforce. Whether Parliament and the Executive act remains uncertain, but the message is clear: frontline staff who sustain Uganda’s service delivery will no longer remain silent in the face of inequality.
