Local government workers in Uganda have warned that they will go on a nationwide strike starting 1st October, 2025, if the government fails to address what they describe as selective and unfair salary increases that have deepened inequality in the public service.
The warning came in a letter addressed on Wednesday, 17th September, 2025, to the Head of Public Service and Secretary to Cabinet by the Uganda Local Government Workers’ Union (ULGWU). The union says previous efforts to resolve pay disparities through dialogue have yielded no results.
“The government’s decisions on salary adjustments have created classes among civil servants who are entitled to equal pay for equal work of the same value,” Hassan Lwabayi Mudiba, ULGWU General Secretary said.
“Selective salary enhancements have caused polarization and demoralization, creating divisions within the public service,” he added.
The union claims that repeated engagements with the Ministry of Public Service, the Prime Minister, and the Speaker of Parliament have failed to deliver any tangible outcome, leaving industrial action as the only viable option.
ULGWU has given the government 30th September as the deadline to address their grievances, warning that failure to act will trigger a strike the following day.
The threat of a strike comes amid ongoing labour unrest in the education sector, where primary school arts teachers are already on strike, disrupting learning in multiple districts.
Union officials have cautioned that a local government strike could paralyze critical services, including health, agriculture, and community development.
ULGWU is urging Cabinet and Parliament to use their budgetary powers to correct what they describe as an unjust pay structure.
“We have been left with no option but to take industrial action,” the ULGWU General Secretary emphasized. “Any form of intimidation, harassment, or victimization of our members during the strike will be unlawful and handled accordingly.”
The union also issued a stern warning to authorities, saying that anyone who tries to declare the strike illegal would be exceeding their legal authority.
The letter, copied to key ministers in Local Government, Public Service, Labour, Gender and Social Development, and Finance, Planning and Economic Development, puts the government under mounting pressure to address growing unequal pay among workers before the 30th September deadline or risk widespread disruption of essential public services.
