President Museveni on May Day, Thursday, pledged to resolve Uganda’s long-standing minimum wage impasse, telling workers that government will tackle wage concerns—but without offering a specific plan or deadline.
“We will tackle minimum wage issues,” Museveni said during International Labour Day celebrations in Nakapiripirit District, where he addressed mounting frustration over stagnant worker pay.
The President’s remarks revived a debate that has simmered for nearly a decade.
In 2015, Parliament passed the Minimum Wage Bill to create a mechanism for setting sector-based wage floors.
But in 2019, Museveni rejected the bill, arguing that the existing Minimum Wages Advisory Board and Wages Council Act was sufficient and did not require new legislation.
Despite his refusal to assent, demands for wage reform have persisted. Just weeks earlier, during belated International Women’s Day celebrations in March 2025, Shadow Minister for Local Government Ethel Naluyima urged Workers' MPs to work with the Gender, Labour and Social Development Ministry to revive the bill.
Workers’ MP Abdul Byakatonda later told reporters that Museveni intended to meet with workers’ representatives to chart a way forward, emphasising the need for a national dialogue on wages.
Uganda’s current minimum wage, fixed at Shs6,000 (about $1.60), has not changed since 1984.
Labour unions and workers’ rights activists say the amount is woefully inadequate to meet even basic living costs.
During his Nakapiripirit speech, Museveni also stressed job creation as a government priority.
He pointed to initiatives like the Parish Development Model (PDM), aimed at driving employment through agriculture at the local level.
He said Uganda must reduce the cost of doing business by improving infrastructure, lowering electricity prices, and expanding access to affordable credit—steps he argued would not only grow the economy but also improve conditions for workers.
How Uganda’s Minimum Wage Compares in the Region
Uganda’s minimum wage—officially set at Shs6,000 (about $1.60) per month since 1984—remains one of the lowest and most outdated in East Africa.
While enforcement is weak and many workers earn far more or far less in reality, the statutory figure remains unchanged on paper.
Here is how Uganda compares with its neighbours:
- Kenya: The minimum wage varies by sector and region, but in urban areas like Nairobi, the lowest paid workers earn about KSh15,120 ($116) per month. Kenya regularly reviews its wage structure through the Wages Council.
- Tanzania: Minimum wages are sector-based. As of the last review, the lowest-paid categories earn around TSh100,000 ($38) per month, while skilled or industrial workers can earn up to TSh400,000 ($152).
- Rwanda: Rwanda has no legally defined minimum wage across all sectors. The only official figure dates back to 1974 (RWF 100/month), but this is not enforced. In practice, wages vary widely by employer and sector.
- Burundi: The official minimum wage is BIF 1,500 per day (roughly $13 per month), but enforcement is weak. Most workers earn below a living wage, especially in rural areas.
Labour activists in Uganda argue that without a modernised and enforceable minimum wage, the country risks further deepening inequality and failing to protect its lowest-paid workers in both formal and informal sectors.