By Spy Uganda
Uganda Police is grappling with a looming wage crisis that could leave thousands of newly recruited officers unpaid, raising concerns about discipline, operational readiness, and public safety ahead of a politically sensitive period.
Officials from the Uganda Police Force have asked Parliament to approve an additional UGX58.4 billion to cater for salaries of 10,000 recruits enlisted ahead of the January 2026 general elections. Without the funding, more than 8,000 officers risk going without pay.
Appearing before Parliament’s Defence and Internal Affairs Committee on April 1, 2026, Undersecretary Aggrey Wunyi said the current wage allocation is insufficient to absorb the new personnel.
“Our wage bill is projected to increase from UGX522 billion to UGX533 billion, but even with that increment, it remains inadequate,” Wunyi said. “As it stands, we cannot pay over 8,000 officers starting July 2026.”
The situation has raised questions about compliance with the Public Finance Management Act, 2015, which requires government agencies to secure funding for recurrent expenditures such as wages before undertaking recruitment.
Lawmakers warned that deploying unpaid, armed personnel could create serious security risks. Mukono North MP Abdallah Kiwanuka cautioned that the situation could undermine discipline within the force.
“You cannot recruit people, arm them, and fail to pay them,” Kiwanuka said, urging government to urgently reallocate funds or return to Parliament with a supplementary budget.
Members of the committee described the wage gap as part of broader structural challenges facing police financing. Lwemiyaga County MP Theodore Ssekikubo said the deficit extends beyond salaries to basic operational needs.
“This UGX58.4 billion gap is just for wages. There is also UGX55 billion needed for water and UGX23 billion for electricity,” Ssekikubo said, warning that failure to meet utility costs could disrupt operations at police stations.
The funding strain comes amid longstanding concerns over underinvestment in the force, affecting welfare, logistics, and service delivery even as security demands continue to grow.
MPs also criticised the government’s phased salary enhancement policy within security agencies, arguing it disproportionately benefits senior officers at the expense of rank-and-file personnel. Ssekikubo noted that junior officers, who form the backbone of policing, remain underpaid despite increasing responsibilities.
Beyond wages, legislators raised concerns about the absence of funding for security preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations 2027, which Uganda will co-host with Kenya and Tanzania.
The police had requested UGX21.159 billion for tournament security, but no allocation has been made in the 2026/27 budget. This has sparked fears over preparedness, with lawmakers questioning whether security financing was adequately integrated into national planning.
Minister of State for Internal Affairs David Muhoozi acknowledged the gap, attributing it to late submissions during the budgeting process. He said the request has been listed among unfunded priorities.
However, MPs warned that failure to address the issue could undermine Uganda’s ability to host the continental tournament safely.
Compounding the challenge, the police force is burdened by domestic arrears estimated at UGX86 billion, with only UGX3.3 billion allocated for clearance in the coming financial year. Wunyi urged Parliament to prioritise settling outstanding obligations to avoid further strain on operations and supplier relationships.
The crisis comes at a time when Uganda’s national budget continues to expand, driven largely by infrastructure investments and preparations for major events. Analysts warn that insufficient attention to recurrent expenditures particularly in critical sectors like security could weaken institutional effectiveness.
As Parliament scrutinises budget priorities, the unfolding wage crisis within the police is expected to test the government’s ability to balance recruitment, operational demands, and fiscal discipline.
