The government has more than doubled night duty allowances for several top officials, including the Vice-President, Prime Minister, deputy prime ministers, Cabinet ministers, judges and heads of key government institutions.
The revised rates are contained in a Ministry of Finance circular dated 21 September 2026, which also increases allowances for permanent secretaries, district chairpersons, local government leaders and civil servants across different salary scales.
Under the new rates, the Vice-President’s night allowance for official travel within Uganda has increased from Shs210,000 to Shs500,000 per night, while the allowance for travel outside the country has risen from $710 to $920.
The Vice-President’s safari day allowance for official travel within Uganda has also increased from Shs21,000 to Shs165,000.
The Prime Minister’s night allowance within Uganda has risen from Shs200,000 to Shs490,000 per night, while that of deputy prime ministers has increased from Shs195,000 to Shs480,000.
Cabinet ministers will now receive Shs475,000 per night, up from Shs190,000, while ministers of state will receive Shs470,000, compared with the previous Shs185,000.
The revised rates also benefit senior judicial officers. The Chief Justice’s night allowance for official travel within Uganda has increased from Shs190,000 to Shs480,000 per night.
The Deputy Chief Justice’s allowance has risen from Shs190,000 to Shs475,000, while the Principal Judge will receive Shs470,000, up from Shs185,000.
Other beneficiaries among senior government officials include justices of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, the Inspector General of Government, the Inspector General of Police, the Commissioner General of Prisons, the Head of Public Service and the Director General of Health Services.
At the local government level, district chairpersons will receive Shs250,000 per night, up from Shs160,000, while vice-chairpersons will receive Shs230,000, compared with the previous Shs155,000.
The revised allowances also cover district speakers, members of district executive committees, deputy district speakers, mayors, deputy mayors, city division chairpersons and councillors at district, city, municipal, town council and sub-county levels.
The changes extend beyond political leaders and senior officials to technical and administrative staff in the public service, including officers serving under the U8 salary scale.
The lowest-ranking officers under the U8 scale will now receive Shs120,000 in night allowance, up from Shs55,000 per night.
The circular provides for revised day and night allowances for official travel both within Uganda and abroad.
Night allowances are paid to government officials who spend at least one night away from their duty stations while on official assignments. The payments cater for accommodation, meals and other incidental expenses.
Day allowances, on the other hand, cover meals and other incidental expenses when an officer travels on official duty within Uganda for at least six hours and returns to their duty station on the same day.
