Workers’ rights: The minimum wage debate is back

The debate on the minimum wage is back. This time, Investment Minister Evelyn Anite held an unprecedented meeting with workers inside the Namanve Industrial Park. With 44,000 employees on site, the minister says workers’ concerns—from low pay to job security—can no longer be ignored as the government moves to create a fairer labour environment. To date, the country’s monthly minimum wage remains frozen at UGX 130,000, a figure unchanged since 2017 and widely seen as outdated amid rising living costs. Despite renewed promises from President Museveni and active tripartite talks throughout 2025, no new rate or enforcement mechanism has been approved, leaving millions of workers waiting for meaningful change. Betty Ndagire reports.