As Uganda heads toward the 2026 general elections, Workers’ representatives are once again on the campaign trail, pledging to champion the welfare of their constituencies. Yet for many voters, questions persist over whether these promises will move beyond rhetoric to address the deep-rooted socio-economic challenges that define their daily lives.
To examine what the current and aspiring Members of Parliament representing workers in the 12th Parliament are promising, and how their pledges align with the realities of their constituents, URN interviewed several contenders. Incumbent Agnes Kunihira Abwooli, who was declared unopposed in July 2026 as the National Resistance Movement – NRM flag bearer for the Female Workers’ Representative seat, decried the growing casualization of labor in factories across Uganda, saying both skilled and unskilled workers are increasingly employed without contracts or benefits.
“Such employment terms are exploitative,” Kunihira said. “A worker cannot save with the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), is not entitled to leave, and cannot rest. This means they must work continuously to earn.” She also called for a review of the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax threshold, which has remained at UGX 250,000 for the past decade. “In ten years, the cost of living, rent, and food have all gone up, yet the PAYE threshold has stayed the same,” she noted. “We must advocate for a tax policy that raises the threshold to at least UGX 500,000.”
Stephen Abima, General Secretary of the Amalgamated Transport and General Workers’ Union and Deputy Secretary General of NOTU, said the biggest challenge facing Ugandan workers is poor organization and weak recruitment structures. “If we are to build a strong bargaining voice, workers must be organized and empowered to participate actively in labour movements,” he said. “The more numbers we have, the stronger our leverage in addressing workers’ issues.”
Abima added that his focus will be to strengthen the Central Organization of Free Trade Unions (COFTU) and the National Organization of Trade Unions (NOTU) to conduct research, develop policy proposals, and improve coordination on labour issues. Also an Executive Board Member of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), Abima emphasized the need to support elderly workers who have retired or left active employment. “Elderly workers have not been sufficiently attended to,” he said. “Once elected, we should establish coordination offices to tap into their expertise and institutional memory.”
Another contender, Victoria Abigail Atukunda, said her biggest pledge is to rally, lobby, and empower the workers’ fraternity to gain the visibility and recognition it deserves from both government and the public. “People need to know what unions do, how they can support the wider workers’ community, and how to access that support,” she said.
Atukunda also pledged to push for the realization of a minimum wage law, which she described as an essential legal framework for protecting workers from exploitation, improving living standards, and promoting fair pay. “A minimum wage ensures workers are not unfairly compensated,” she explained. “It provides a foundation to advocate for higher wages and aligns with human rights principles, especially for vulnerable groups in the informal sector.”
Incumbent Workers’ MP Abdullah Byakatonda pledged to push for the government’s ratification of the International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions on health and safety, saying they are critical for safeguarding workers. “These conventions establish global standards that promote a prevention culture and guide national policies,” he said.
“They help reduce work-related injuries, diseases, and deaths by requiring countries to develop systems that prioritize continuous improvement and protect vulnerable groups.” Byakatonda emphasized that occupational health and safety is now recognized as a fundamental right, obligating all ILO member states to ensure safe and healthy workplaces.
Last week, the Electoral Commission in Kampala nominated 17 candidates vying for the five national Workers’ MP seats in the 12th Parliament, including one reserved for a female representative under the Special Interest Group. Across Uganda, workers continue to grapple with low wages, job insecurity, and weak enforcement of labour rights.
Article 78(1)(c) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda provides for the representation of workers in Parliament. The Parliamentary Elections (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 2015 outlines that the five Workers’ Representatives are elected by an electoral college comprising delegates from registered labour unions and ten representatives of non-unionized workers from each of the four regions, Central, Eastern, Northern, and Western.
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