Local government employees have voiced their concerns and demanded clarification from the Ministry of Finance regarding the delay in prioritizing their salary enhancement in the First Budget Call Circular for the 2024/2025 Financial Year.
In a letter dated September 25 and addressed to the Secretary to the Treasury, the workers, represented by the Uganda Local Government Workers Union (ULGWU), express their disappointment with the government’s failure to fulfill its commitment to enhance the salaries of local government workers and other civil servants who have not previously benefited from such enhancements.
Mr. Hassan Mudiba, the Secretary-General of ULGWU, highlights in the letter that workers are troubled by the absence of communication explaining why the government has reneged on its promise.
Due to economic challenges, the government recently announced the suspension of salary enhancement for public servants for the Financial Year 2023/2024.
It further stated that the comprehensive salary enhancement plan would be implemented starting from the Financial Year 2024/2025.
The proposed priorities for the upcoming fiscal year budget include the effective implementation of the Parish Development Model (PDM), agricultural production, value addition, development of the oil and gas sector, accelerated development of the minerals sector, and the implementation of the export strategy.
Other priorities encompass digitalization and automation of the economy, private sector development, integrated infrastructural development, and the promotion of service sector effectiveness and accountability.
In addition to concerns about salary enhancement, local government workers accuse the government of neglecting to involve them in the Budget Formulation Process, contrary to provisions in the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda (with Amendments).
These provisions are enforced through various legislations, including the Public Service (Negotiating Consultative and Dispute Settlement Machinery) Act of 2008 and the Equal Opportunities Commission Act of 2007, among others.
The letter emphasizes the demoralization and adverse effects on service delivery resulting from discriminatory treatment among public service workers and calls for immediate remedies to prevent further deterioration of the service.
Mr. Ramathan Ggoobi, the Secretary to the Treasury, was not available for comment at the time of this report.