The Local Government Workers Union has announced that its members will begin an industrial strike on October 1, 2025, citing the government’s failure to implement promised salary enhancements.
General Secretary of the union, Hassan Lwabayi Mudiba, explained that despite several reminders, the government has not acted on the workers’ demands. The union officially notified the government through the Head of Public Service and Secretary to Cabinet on September 18, 2025, signaling the intention to strike in accordance with Section 14 (a) and (b) of the Labour Act concerning notice between government and labor unions.
Mudiba stated,
“Unfortunately, the government has not responded to our notice. Workers have therefore resolved to lay down their tools to express their dissatisfaction with the continued salary disparities within the public service.”
The union highlighted that while the government allocated Shs 8.55 trillion as the wage bill for the financial year 2025/2026, an increase of over Shs 724 billion from the previous year — local government workers categorized under the unconditional grant-wage received only Shs 380.6 billion, approximately 10.7% of the sector’s wage bill.
“This has significantly eroded our members’ purchasing power against the rising cost of living. Yet, they continue to face the same market prices, hospital fees, housing rents, and school fees as everyone else,” Mudiba explained.
He further pointed out glaring salary disparities across public service sectors, noting that senior officers in local government earn around Shs 902 billion, while their counterparts in medical services, police, civil aviation, and other sectors receive substantially higher pay.
Regarding the salary enhancements agreed upon in the 2018 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), Mudiba noted,
“The CBA was intended to harmonize salaries and remuneration across all civil servants in local government, but many of these increases have yet to be applied.”
Mudiba emphasized that the planned strike is fully protected under Ugandan law. He cited Article 40 (3) of the Constitution, which guarantees workers the right to form and join unions, engage in collective bargaining, and withdraw labor lawfully. He also referenced Article 20, which obliges all government organs and individuals to respect and uphold fundamental rights and freedoms.
He added that the strike is backed by the Public Service Act (Cap 91, Section 15) and the Labour Unions Act (Cap 228, Section 24), which protect unions and their members from legal proceedings in relation to lawful industrial actions.
“We therefore expect no interference, intimidation, or harassment from administrative authorities — including RDCs, LC IV Chairpersons, Mayors, Chief Administrative Officers, or District Police Commanders, during this peaceful strike. Any attempts to undermine workers’ constitutional and legal rights will be met with appropriate legal action,” Mudiba warned.
