Local government workers in Uganda are raising concerns about the delay in implementing a promised salary increase. They have requested clarification from the Finance Ministry regarding why their salary enhancement has not been prioritized in the First Budget Call Circular for the 2024/2025 Financial Year.
In a letter dated September 25 addressed to the Secretary to the Treasury, the workers, represented by the Uganda Local Government Workers Union (ULGWU), expressed their disappointment that the government had not fulfilled its commitment to enhance the salaries of local government workers and other civil servants who had not previously benefited from such increases.
Mr. Hassan Mudiba, the Secretary General of ULGWU, highlighted in the letter that the workers were further frustrated by the lack of communication from the government explaining the breach of its promise.
The government recently announced the suspension of salary enhancements for public servants for one year, effective in the 2023/2024 Financial Year. It stated that the comprehensive salary enhancement plan would begin in the 2024/2025 Financial Year.
The proposed priorities for the next fiscal year’s budget include various areas such as the Parish Development Modal, agricultural production, oil and gas sector development, mineral sector development, and export strategy implementation, among others.
In addition to concerns about salary enhancement, local government workers accused the government of not involving them in the Budget Formulation Process, contrary to provisions in the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda and related legislations.
The letter from the workers emphasized the need to address discrimination in the treatment of public service workers, which they believed had demoralized employees and negatively impacted service delivery.
As of the time of this report, Mr. Ramathan Ggoobi, the Secretary to the Treasury, was unavailable for comment.
Last year, ULGWU and other public service labor unions went on strike, alleging that the government had failed to honor the 2018 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which pledged salary increases for all public servants. The union’s demands included a minimum salary of Shs1.7 million for entry-level employees and support staff, as well as an increase in the pay for chief administrative officers (CAOs) from Shs 2.5 million to Shs 15 million.
The strike was eventually called off after negotiations with officials from the Public Service ministry. Prior to the local government workers’ strike, teachers, nurses, and doctors had also demanded salary increases, with the government agreeing to implement enhancements in phases, starting with scientists and science teachers due to budget constraints.
There’s too much segregation on salary increment leaving other groups suffocating with the little they have. There are others who doesn’t have something to save rather than eating the money all. People tend to depend on loan continuously to survive. I request government should take appropriate action in addressing this matter.