Uganda’s Local Government Workers Declare Nationwide Industrial Action Over Salary Disparities

17 September 2025, 7:45 pm

By Eman yonah oruk

In a bold and unprecedented move, the Uganda Local Government Workers Union (ULGWU) has officially declared a nationwide industrial action set to begin at midnight on Wednesday, 1st October 2025. The announcement, delivered through a formal notice to the Head of Public Service and Secretary to Cabinet, signals a major escalation in the union’s long-standing battle for equitable salary enhancement across all local government sectors.

ULGWU has condemned what it describes as “selective salary enhancements” that have created deep divisions among civil servants. The union argues that workers performing equal tasks of equal value deserve equal pay, and the current system undermines morale and unity within the public service.

Despite multiple petitions and engagements with top government officials—including the Ministry of Public Service, the Prime Minister, and the Speaker of Parliament—the union reports that no meaningful progress has been made. “All options have been exhausted,” the notice reads, “and industrial action remains the only viable path to communicate our demands.”

The union asserts that the strike is fully protected under the Constitution of Uganda and international labor conventions to which Uganda is a signatory. Any attempts to intimidate, harass, or victimize striking workers will be deemed unlawful. ULGWU warns that individuals acting outside their legal mandate (“ultra vires”) will face consequences.

ULGWU is urging Parliament and Cabinet to intervene decisively. “Local government workers are the implementers of the government’s manifesto,” the union emphasized, calling on lawmakers to use their budgetary powers to ensure fair compensation for all.

The notice has been widely circulated to key government figures, including ministers, permanent secretaries, district leaders, and union executives, signaling the seriousness and scale of the planned action.