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Pius Bigirimana, Secretary to the Judiciary has called for a stronger industrial court system to handle work-related disputes more effectively.
Speaking at the the 3rd Annual National Labour Convention and Expo in Kampala, Bigirimana said the court needs to be empowed with more judges to handle the every growing work-related disputes.
He recalled while he previous served as Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, he led the efforts to revamp the court.
At the time, he said, many workers were taking their disputes to the President at State House, which he found impractical.
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“I wondered how this could be. Can't we help the president focus on other things? That is how we started the Industrial Court,” hes said.
The PS on the other hand also called for a bigger number of judges in the Commercial Court, which handles vital cases related to banking, trade, and construction.
This, he argued, would lead to faster resolution of cases, unlocking money tied up in the system, increasing tax revenue, and reducing Uganda's reliance on foreign loans.
The Role of Partnerships and System Strengthening
Hon. Esther Anyakun, the Minister of State for Labour, Employment, and Industrial Relations, expressed her gratitude for Bigirimana’s support in pushing for more judges in the industrial court, acknowledging the court’s high caseload.
She stressed that partnerships and strengthening systems within the sector are essential for creating a better work environment.
“For a better work world, we must invest in partnerships and system strengthening. We need to create an environment where rights are respected, risks are managed, and workers are treated with dignity,” Anyakun stated.
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Decent Work Country Programme and Future of Labour
The International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Director for the Country Office in Dar es Salaam, Ms Caroline Khamati Mugalla, shared her enthusiasm about the launch of Uganda’s Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) III (2025/26-2029/30), which will be officially launched by President Yoweri Museveni on Labour Day.
“This is the best Decent Work Country Program we have seen so far from any country,” Mugalla remarked.
She highlighted the programme’s human-centred approach, which addresses key issues such as the impact of automation and artificial intelligence, the creation of green jobs, and the modernisation of skills development systems to ensure that no one is left behind.
The programme, she explained, aims to advance a decent worker agenda for the next five years and is designed to respond to interconnected challenges in Uganda’s labour sector.
Government Commitment to Decent Work
Hon. Betty Amongi, the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, reiterated the government’s commitment to implementing the Decent Work programme.
She outlined the key objectives, which include improving access to decent employment, better enforcement of labour laws, and streamlining social protection for workers.
Amongi stressed the importance of workers’ rights, including medical insurance, retirement benefits, and signed contracts.
She also warned employers against hindering labour officers' efforts to monitor compliance, stating, “If you chase away labour officers from your factory, you break the law, and we will come after you.”