Blue Fox security guards in Lira city strike over low pay

13 June 2025, 4:27 pm

By Ceaser Odongo

Over 100 security guards working with Blue Fox Guard Security Company Limited in Lira City have launched an industrial strike over what they describe as low and delayed salaries.

Radio Wa has learnt that the security guards began a sit-down strike today, refusing to pick up their guns and report for duty at various premises, homes, and institutions across the city.

Brenda Kulumba Akello, one of the guards assigned to banks in Lira City, revealed that she spent last night sleeping outside after her landlord locked her rental house due to unpaid rent.

Akello said that when they were recruited, they were promised a monthly salary of UGX 250,000, to be paid promptly on the 6th of every month. However, they receive only UGX 150,000, and often late.

She explained that the guards are demanding a salary increment to at least UGX 200,000, with timely payment, as their current earnings cannot cover rent, children’s school fees, medical bills, and other personal needs.

Akello also decried that some workers receive even less than 150,000 shillings due to what she termed illegal deductions, unclear suspensions, and the confiscation of their National Identity cards for unexplained reasons.

Akello called on city leaders and the Government of Uganda to intervene in their plight. By press time, a group of striking guards had flocked to the Blue Fox office in Lira demanding a response from the company’s management.

Dicken Ojuka, another staff member, disclosed that some workers are receiving as little as UGX 80,000 out of the promised 250,000 shillings per month. He added that the poor pay has led to domestic conflicts at their homes due to financial stress.

Efforts to get a comment from Ceaser Ogen, the Operations Manager for Blue Fox Guard Security in charge of the Lira office, were futile as several phone calls went unanswered and he was not present at the office.

However, Ogolla John, one of the directors of Blue Fox Guard Security Company Limited based in Kampala, refuted the allegations. He stated that the guards making the claims had already been paid and insisted that their strike began just three days into the payment period, yet it takes up to a week to pay all Blue Fox guards countrywide.

He promised to issue a detailed comment on the matter at a later time.