The Association of Secretaries and Administrative Professionals in Uganda (ASAPU) has congratulated President Yoweri Museveni on his inauguration for a new term in office, while urging government to prioritise salary enhancement for secretaries and administrative staff across the country.
The appeal was made during a two-day workshop held at the Civil Service College in Jinja City, where more than 1,000 secretaries and administrative professionals gathered to strengthen their skills and acquire new competencies in Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Speaking at the event, ASAPU President Julius Semaganda said secretaries remain committed to improved service delivery but stressed that fair remuneration is essential, especially as the workforce adapts to digital transformation.
“We request President Museveni in this new term of ‘No Sleep’ to look into the issue of salary enhancement. We appreciate him; he has done it for other cadres, and our prayer is that we are also prioritised when it comes to improving salaries for all workers in Uganda,” Semaganda said.
He noted that current pay levels remain low compared to the rising cost of living, saying a diploma-holding secretary earns about Shs350,000 per month, while a degree holder earns approximately Shs560,000.
“When you compare that money with the ever-increasing cost of living, it does not match,” he said. “We humbly request that this issue is addressed so we can continue serving this country diligently.”
Semaganda added that the profession is evolving from traditional clerical roles into a more strategic function supporting efficiency and service delivery in government operations.
AI Training Takes Centre Stage
This year’s conference is focused on Artificial Intelligence, with participants trained on how AI tools can improve productivity, reduce turnaround time, and enhance competitiveness in the workplace.
“We’ve come here to prepare our fellow secretaries on how AI works. We want to eliminate the fear that AI has come to take away jobs. That fear can only go away through training,” Semaganda said.
He added that the profession must adapt to modern tools and move beyond manual systems.
“With AI, work is done more efficiently. That is why it is important to prepare our members so they can work better,” he noted.
Peter Byamugisha of Kathay Technologies, one of the facilitators, described AI as both an opportunity and a challenge.
“It is a threat to jobs and yet also an opportunity. In Africa, AI is rolling out slowly, which gives people time to adapt. But administrative assistants equipped with AI tools will become more valuable than those who are not,” Byamugisha said.
He stressed that AI will not replace the human aspect of administrative work but will transform technical tasks such as reporting, research, and data analysis.
“AI will not comfort the boss or attend a funeral, but when it comes to technical work, generative AI is a major shift for those who do not upskill,” he said.
Byamugisha urged professionals to embrace AI tools, particularly within the Google ecosystem, for scheduling, reporting, and data management.
He also called on employers and government institutions to support continuous training, warning that those who fail to adapt risk being left behind.
The workshop concludes on Saturday, with President Museveni expected to preside over the closing ceremony.
