Outgoing Lc Officials to Receive May Salaries As New Leaders Start Pay in June

The Ministry of Local Government has issued a clarification to end uncertainty regarding the payment of Local Council (LC) officials following the recent transition of leadership across Uganda. Permanent Secretary Ben Kumumanya confirmed that outgoing LC officials are entitled to salaries and allowances for May 2026, while newly elected leaders will begin receiving payments from June.

This clarification, contained in a communication referenced HRM 55/414/01, was addressed to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Service after several local governments sought guidance. The ministry reviewed the handover process, noting that most councils were sworn in from May 18, 2026, meaning outgoing officials served for the majority of the month. "Payments of May, 2026 should go to the Old LC Officials and the New Ones Commence with the Month of June, 2026 as it has been the Practice in the Service," Kumumanya stated.

The directive resolves a dispute that arose in several districts and lower local governments. Some newly elected leaders argued they should be paid for May since they assumed office before the month ended. Conversely, outgoing officials maintained their entitlement due to serving most of the month. This disagreement created administrative challenges and uncertainty over payroll processing and accountability.

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Payments of May, 2026 should go to the Old LC Officials and the New Ones Commence with the Month of June, 2026 as it has been the Practice in the Service.

A Chief Administrative Officer from Eastern Uganda, speaking anonymously, stated that the ministry's guidance removed a significant obstacle. "We had LC III chairpersons refusing to hand over files because of the salary issue. Now we can tell both the old and new teams exactly what to expect," the official said. Kumumanya stressed that this decision reaffirms a long-standing government practice, not a new policy.

The guidance is expected to be circulated to accounting officers responsible for payroll decisions across local governments, affecting thousands of elected leaders. It ensures a clear and consistent process for salary distribution during leadership transitions, preventing further administrative complications.

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We had LC III chairpersons refusing to hand over files because of the salary issue. Now we can tell both the old and new teams exactly what to expect.