Government Calls Key Meeting With Public Service Unions to Resolve Salary Disputes

The Ugandan government has reached out to major public service unions, extending an invitation for discussions aimed at addressing persistent concerns over salaries and working conditions. This development comes after the unions agreed to pause their industrial action to pave the way for constructive engagement with the government on issues of pay and fairness.

The unions invited to this dialogue include the Uganda Local Government Workers Union (ULGWU), the Uganda National Teachers Union (UNATO), and the Uganda Technical and Vocational Trainers Union. These groups have been leading campaigns for better wages and the elimination of pay inequalities among public sector employees. In response, the government has scheduled an inter-ministerial meeting for Tuesday, November 11, 2025, at 2:30 p.m.

According to the invitation from the Permanent Secretary for Public Service, the General Secretaries and Chairpersons of the respective unions are expected to attend this high-level session. The purpose of the meeting is to provide a transparent platform for dialogue between government officials and union leaders, focusing on resolving the underlying issues that led to the recent threats of industrial action.

Public servants—who form the backbone of essential government operations—have for years expressed dissatisfaction with unequal pay structures and inadequate compensation. This upcoming engagement offers a critical opportunity to rebuild trust, foster cooperation, and work toward lasting reforms in Uganda’s public service remuneration system.

This initiative also fulfills the legal requirement for dialogue prior to any strike action. Nonetheless, union leaders have emphasized that if the talks do not result in meaningful progress on salary improvements and the elimination of pay gaps, they will have no choice but to resume industrial protests.

The outcome of this meeting carries immense national significance, as it affects thousands of public workers and the continuity of vital government services. Ugandans are encouraged to follow developments closely, as the decisions made could shape the future of the country’s public service sector.

For now, all eyes are fixed on November 11, 2025, when both parties will meet in a much-anticipated session that could determine whether lasting harmony or renewed conflict lies ahead for Uganda’s workforce.