Government has proposed a major salary enhancement for Resident District Commissioners (RDCs), with their monthly pay set to rise from the current Shs2.2 million to Shs9 million starting in the 2026/27 financial year.
The proposed increment was revealed by Alex Byarugaba, the Chairperson of Parliament’s Presidential Affairs Committee, while presenting the committee report on the Ministerial Policy Statement for the Office of the President.
According to the report, Deputy RDCs are also expected to benefit from the salary review, with their pay projected to increase from Shs1.2 million to Shs5 million per month. Assistant RDCs would see their salaries rise from Shs877,216 to Shs2.695 million.
Byarugaba told Parliament that the salaries of RDCs and their deputies have remained unchanged for nearly 20 years despite the rising cost of living.
“The Committee established that, for almost 20 financial years, salaries for RDCs and Deputy RDCs have been stagnant. The Committee is cognizant of factors like inflation that erodes purchasing power,” Byarugaba said.
He added that RDCs supervise several government officials whose salaries have already been enhanced over the years.
“In addition, by comparison, other public servants over whom the RDCs play an oversight role, like the District Chief Administrative Officers, received significant salary enhancement,” he noted.
According to the committee report, Cabinet proposed an increase of Shs6.7 million for each RDC, bringing their monthly salary to Shs9 million.
“The Committee was informed that Cabinet proposed an increment of Shs6,706,800, resulting in a monthly salary of Shs9 million for an RDC,” Byarugaba said.
He further explained that Deputy RDCs would receive an enhancement of Shs3.7 million, while Assistant RDCs would get an increase of Shs1.8 million.
Uganda currently has 146 RDCs, 170 Deputy RDCs and 432 Assistant RDCs across the country.
The proposed salary enhancement is expected to cost taxpayers about Shs29.079 billion annually.
“The Committee recommends that a total of Shs29.079 billion be allocated to the Office of the President to cater for the salary enhancement,” Byarugaba stated.
If approved by Parliament, the new salaries will take effect in the 2026/27 financial year.
