Patrick Ocailap, Deputy Secretary to the Treasury, has said the government is not aware of the specific demands from the Uganda Local Government Workers Union.
Speaking to Bbeg Media via phone, Ocailap said he requires a formal report from the permanent secretaries of the ministries of Gender and Local Government to understand the progress on the workers’ issues before taking action.
The union, representing over 1,000 members nationwide, has raised concerns about unfairness in the wage bill, highlighting that some workers receive lower salaries despite holding the same rank, which they argue violates their labor rights as government employees.
Recently, the union was summoned to a meeting at the ministry of Public Service to discuss their grievances with Permanent Secretaries from Labour, Finance, Local Government, and Public Service.
However, only commissioners attended, whom the workers described as “junior officers” unable to address their concerns effectively.
The workers were informed that salary increments could only be considered in the 2026/27 financial year due to insufficient funds in the current budget.
The union was also warned against taking industrial action, as they reportedly lack the mandate to strike. Despite this, members threatened to proceed with a strike if their demands remain unaddressed.
This issue coincides with similar discontent among judicial officers, who are frustrated with the Permanent Secretary to the Judiciary, Pius Bigirimana, for his perceived inaction on their salary increment requests.
It remains unclear when the government will address these demands, but the welfare of public servants continues to be a critical factor in effective service delivery across Uganda.
