The Ministry of Local Government plans to enhance salaries of Council Chairpersons, councilors and other local government workers by 100 per cent in the next financial year which begins on July 01.
Local government workers remain among the least paid political leaders under the Museveni government. But there now appears to be some hope for salary increment although some have described the proposed enhancement as not being significant enough.
Appearing before Parliament’s Committee on Public Service and Local Government, Local Government Minister Raphael Magyezi told committee chairperson Martin Ojara Mapenduzi and other members that while the cost of living had risen, the salaries of local government workers had remained low.
As he presented the Local Government Ministry’s policy statement for the 2024-25 financial year and defended estimates on March 26, Magyezi noted that it would be wise to enhance salaries of local government leaders.
He added: “This policy statement prioritizes many areas including the increment of political leaders’ remuneration. Considering the current living costs, it is prudent that they are enhanced.”
HOW LOCAL GOVERNMENT SALARIES STAND
According to Parliament of Uganda, a chairperson at Parish and village level receivs a monthly remuneration of Shs10,000 while a sub-county chairperson receives Shs400,000 and a sub-county councilor Shs35,000.
Parliament of Uganda also notes that a Municipal, City and District Councilor is paid Shs250,000 per month subject to tax. The salary of a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker across various levels ranges from Shs300,000 to Shs600,000.
Each members of the City or District Executive Committees is paid Shs600,000 per month.
A District Chairpersons earns Shs2m per month.
The increment would not be so significant since these local leaders earn low salaries.
Local government employees have previously threatened to go on strike over poor pay. (See Details Here).
You can also see Uganda’s current salary structure as well as the list of the country’s 25 most highly paid government employees Here and There.
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