Kampala street cleaners could soon see their daily pay rise from Shs6,000 to Shs10,000 if Parliament approves an additional Shs6.018 billion requested by Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA).
The proposal was presented on January 20, 2026, by KCCA Executive Director Sharifah Buzeki before Parliament’s Committee on Presidential Affairs. Buzeki explained that the current wage has been eroded by the rising cost of living, and the increase is intended to improve cleaners’ livelihoods.
Under KCCA’s proposed 2026/27 budget, the authority’s overall allocation is set to grow from Shs950 billion to Shs1.1 trillion. Of this, Shs12.983 billion has been earmarked for street cleaners’ salaries. However, Buzeki said the existing funds are insufficient to both raise wages and recruit additional staff, prompting the request for extra funding.
“Our proposal is to raise the daily pay from Shs6,000 to Shs10,000,” Buzeki said. She added that expanding road infrastructure in the city will require 432 new cleaners to keep the streets in order.
The plan drew questions from Ruhama County MP Benjamin Kamukama, who asked why KCCA wants to hire more manual cleaners while also requesting Shs1.5 billion for mechanised street-cleaning equipment.
“You are asking for funds to recruit 432 more cleaners, yet at the same time you want to buy cleaning machines worth Shs1.5 billion. Which option makes more sense?” Kamukama asked.
Buzeki defended the proposal, noting that road construction in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area is increasing, with an additional 81.87 kilometres of roads expected. She said this expansion makes both additional manpower and mechanised equipment necessary.
The push to raise wages follows appeals by city cleaners in November 2025, who asked KCCA to increase their daily pay to at least Shs10,000, arguing that the current rate can no longer cover basic needs such as rent, food, and school fees.
