The Deputy Speaker of the 11th Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, has disclosed that the government will not be able to increase salaries of local government leaders for the next three years.
Despite the visible need to improve their welfare, Tayebwa explained that the government’s focus is on service delivery, and the resources are limited. He also warned that the upcoming budget will not include salary enhancements but offered support through the Saccos of Emyooga to enable local leaders to earn side income.
Tayebwa made these remarks while opening the first regional outreach of the 11th Parliament at Mountain of the Moon Hotel in Fort Portal.
His comments were in response to the Chairman of Kabarole District and President of Uganda Local Government Association, Richard Rwabuhinga, who implored Parliament to increase local leaders’ pay in the forthcoming budget.
Rwabuhinga argued that local leaders are still being paid at the 2011 salary scale, with a district chairman earning Shs1.7 million, a sub-county leader earning Shs 370,000, and a district councilor earning Shs 250,000 per month.
However, Tayebwa stressed that the government’s priority is service delivery, and the limited resources cannot accommodate salary increments. The regional Parliament outreaches aim to foster the roles legislators play in their constituencies and build strong linkages with local governments as key players in service delivery.
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The Clerk to Parliament, Adolf Mwesige, added that local councils would benefit from engagements with Members of Parliament as it makes it easier when they are seeking support from Parliament in bridging financial gaps.
