Money talk is back in government.
This time it’s RDCs, Deputy RDCs, and Assistant RDCs. The people who speak for President in every district.
Government has put proposal on table. Big one.
RDC salary to jump from Shs2,293,200 to Shs9 million.
Deputy RDC from Shs1,282,369 to Shs5 million.
Assistant RDC from Shs877,216 to Shs2,695,000.
Total cost? Shs29.078 billion every year. For salaries alone. No fuel. No car. No office. Just salary. Meaning That is Without Allowances.
Alex Byarugaba, Chairperson Presidential Affairs Committee, said it in Parliament. He was presenting report for Office of Presidency, for 2026/27 budget.
He also gave numbers. Uganda has 146 RDCs. 170 Deputy RDCs. 432 Assistant RDCs.
That’s 748 people. And their pay, he said, has not changed for 20 years.
Why This Is Making Noise
Now, let’s be honest. Shs877,000 in 2005 is not same as Shs877,000 in 2026. Rent went up. School fees went up. Matoke went up. But Assistant RDC salary stayed there.
One Assistant RDC from Bushenyi told me last month, I fear to arrest corrupt officer because my salary is smaller than his allowance. How can I fight corruption when I’m hungry?”
That’s real problem.
Another RDC from Karamoja said, “We represent President. We sleep in village, we settle land fights, we chase cattle thieves. But when we reach Kampala for meeting, even parking fee is problem. People laugh. They say ‘RDC but no money’.”
So yes, argument is there. 20 years no increment is long. Even teachers got raise. Nurses got raise. Police got raise. RDCs waited.
But Ssebo, Shs29 Billion Is Not Small Money
Now let’s talk other side. Because Uganda is not printing money.
Shs29 billion every year. That’s 29,000 million.
That money can build 58 seed secondary schools. Shs500 million each.
That money can buy 1,450 hospital beds. Shs20 million each.
That money can pay 24,000 primary teachers for one month. Shs1.2 million each.
So when government says “we increase RDC pay”, mwananchi asks, “where will money come from?”
Because same government is telling nurses “no money for lunch allowance”. Same government is telling local council “wait for revenue collection”.
Now RDCs will earn Shs9 million. That’s more than doctor at Mulago. More than senior lecturer at Makerere. More than Grade One Magistrate.
Are we saying RDC job is harder than doctor job?
That’s question in taxi park now.
The Number One Problem Nobody Is Talking About
Uganda has 146 districts. Okay. So 146 RDCs, fine.
But 170 Deputy RDCs? Why? Some districts have two deputies. Some have one. Some have none.
Then 432 Assistant RDCs. Ssebo, that’s 3 assistants per district on average.
What do 432 assistants do every day?
In some places, they help. They mobilize for government programs. They write reports. Good.
In other places, people say “we don’t know them”. “They sit in office and wait for salary”.
So before we pay Shs29 billion, maybe first ask — do we need 748 RDCs?
Because if we reduce number to 400, and pay them well, maybe we save Shs14 billion. That Shs14 billion can go to medicine.
The Politics Behind This Money
Let’s not lie. 2026 is done. Elections are done.
RDCs are President’s eyes. They move in village. They hear rumors. They stopped opposition rallies. They promote NRM.
When you pay them Shs9 million, you are not just paying worker. You are paying loyalty.
One NRM mobilizer told me, “RDC with Shs2 million can be bought by opponent. RDC with Shs9 million will remember who made him rich.”
That’s politics. Ugly, but true.
So opposition is already shouting. They say “this is unjust using salary to fight our lawful operations”.
Government side says “no, this is motivation for service”.
Mwananchi in middle is just watching. Because for him, whether RDC earns 2 million or 9 million, his road is still bad.
What Must Be Done Before Money Is Released
First, audit the office. 748 RDCs. Who are they? What are their qualifications? What do they deliver monthly? If Assistant RDC has no report for 6 months, why pay him Shs2.6 million?
Second, tie pay to performance. Don’t just give Shs9 million because title is RDC. Give it if district has no land fights. If government programs reach people. If corruption cases reduce. Pay for results, not for sitting.
Third, explain to public. Shs29 billion is big. Government must come on radio, TV, and say “we took money from here, to pay RDCs, and this is why”. Don’t hide in budget papers. People must understand.
Fourth, balance it. If RDC gets Shs9 million, what about DISO? What about CAO? What about Headteacher? Government must show structure. Otherwise every office will strike tomorrow. “If RDC got raise, why not us?”
Last Word: Respect Must Match Money
RDC job is hard. You face angry mobs. You sleep in hard places. You get threats. Yes, pay them better.
But Shs9 million is Minister level. Ministers make policy. RDCs implement. If we pay same, then we must expect same results.
After 20 years, increment is fair. But increment must come with discipline.
No more RDC driving government car to bar.
No more Assistant RDC using office to grab land.
No more Deputy RDC sleeping at burial of opposition work.
Because if taxpayer will give Shs29 billion, taxpayer must see value.
Otherwise, we are just fattening cows that don’t give milk.
And Uganda has no money to waste on fat cows now.
We have debt. We have hospitals without drugs. We have schools without desks.
So yes, increase pay. But also increase accountability.
That’s the deal.
If not, then this Shs29 billion will be another wound on ordinary Ugandan.
And Ugandans will remember.
