The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development has revised duty-facilitating allowances for government officials, raising payments for overnight stays and daytime official travel under a new structure that also covers political leaders, judges, public officers and local government leaders.
In a letter dated September 21, 2026, Patrick Ocailap, writing for the Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury, directed implementers of the Public Investment and Asset Management for Growth and Resilience Operation (PIM Plus), the Resource Enhancement and Accountability Programme (REAP), the Uganda Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers Programme (UgIFT) and Funds Coordination for Global Fund Grants to apply the revised rates.
“Reference is made to the attached letter to all accounting officers dated 20th February 2026 concerning the operating framework for development partner supported projects,” the letter states.
“The letter provides, among others, that the duty facilitating allowances in Circular Standing Instruction No. 6 of 2018 (copy attached) are to be used going forward.”
The ministry said the revised rates would apply to activities under the four programmes and instructed officials to adjust their spending plans to accommodate the changes.
“You should, therefore, rationalise all your planned activities and fit them within the available resources in FY2026/27,” the letter states.
“Secondly, you are advised to plan and budget with this new information for FY2027/28 onwards.”
The attached revised allowance schedule lists existing rates alongside the new payments for different categories of officials. The figures below are expressed in Uganda shillings unless otherwise indicated. Overseas allowances are denominated in US dollars.
Night allowances within Uganda
The revised schedule provides higher overnight allowances for political leaders, senior public officials, judicial officers and elected local government leaders who stay away from their duty stations on official business.
The document explains that night allowance is paid when an officer “stays away for a night or more from his/her duty station on official duty” to cater for meals, accommodation and other incidental expenses.
Political leaders
The Vice President’s overnight allowance rises from Shs210,000 to Shs500,000 per night. The Prime Minister’s allowance increases from Shs200,000 to Shs490,000, while the Deputy Prime Minister’s rate rises from Shs195,000 to Shs480,000.
A minister’s overnight allowance increases from Shs190,000 to Shs475,000, while a minister of state moves from Shs185,000 to Shs470,000.
The Senior Presidential Advisor’s allowance rises from Shs180,000 to Shs300,000 per night. The Assistant Senior Presidential Advisor moves from Shs170,000 to Shs280,000, while a Presidential Advisor also rises from Shs170,000 to Shs280,000.
The Special Presidential Envoy’s rate increases from Shs170,000 to Shs280,000. The Special Presidential Assistant moves from Shs170,000 to Shs280,000, while the Deputy Special Presidential Assistant also rises from Shs170,000 to Shs280,000.
The Resident District Commissioner’s allowance increases from Shs165,000 to Shs250,000 per night. The Deputy Resident District Commissioner’s rate rises from Shs150,000 to Shs230,000.
Judicial officers and other specified officials
The Chief Justice’s overnight allowance increases from Shs195,000 to Shs480,000. The Deputy Chief Justice moves from Shs190,000 to Shs475,000, while the Principal Judge’s rate rises from Shs185,000 to Shs470,000.
A Justice of the Supreme Court moves from Shs180,000 to Shs400,000 per night. A Justice of the Court of Appeal’s allowance increases from Shs175,000 to Shs350,000, while a High Court judge moves from Shs170,000 to Shs300,000.
The Director of Public Prosecutions’ overnight allowance rises from Shs170,000 to Shs280,000. The Auditor General moves from Shs170,000 to Shs280,000, while the Inspector General of Government’s rate increases from Shs170,000 to Shs280,000.
The Inspector General of Police also moves from Shs170,000 to Shs280,000 per night. The Deputy Inspector General of Government’s allowance increases from Shs160,000 to Shs250,000, while the Deputy Inspector General of Police moves from Shs160,000 to Shs250,000.
The Commissioner General of Prisons’ overnight allowance rises from Shs160,000 to Shs280,000. The Deputy Commissioner General of Prisons moves from Shs160,000 to Shs250,000.
Elected local government leaders
A district chairperson’s overnight allowance increases from Shs160,000 to Shs250,000 per night. The district vice chairperson moves from Shs155,000 to Shs230,000, while district speakers also rise from Shs155,000 to Shs230,000.
Members of district executive committees see their allowance increase from Shs140,000 to Shs200,000. A district deputy speaker’s rate rises from Shs140,000 to Shs182,000.
Mayors of municipalities and chairpersons of city divisions move from Shs140,000 to Shs182,000 per night. Deputy mayors of municipalities also rise from Shs140,000 to Shs182,000.
District and city councillors’ allowance increases from Shs130,000 to Shs169,000. Sub-county, municipal, town council and municipal division chairpersons move from Shs125,000 to Shs162,500, while councillors in those local government structures see their rate rise from Shs115,000 to Shs149,500.
Public officers
The Head of Public Service and Secretary to Cabinet’s overnight allowance rises from Shs170,000 to Shs300,000. The Deputy Head of Public Service and Deputy Secretary to Cabinet move from Shs165,000 to Shs290,000.
A Permanent Secretary’s allowance increases from Shs160,000 to Shs280,000 per night. The Director General of Health Services also moves from Shs160,000 to Shs280,000.
A Senior Medical Consultant’s rate rises from Shs150,000 to Shs250,000, while the Deputy Secretary to the Treasury moves from Shs150,000 to Shs250,000.
The Secretary of the Uganda Land Commission’s allowance increases from Shs150,000 to Shs250,000. The Accountant General also moves from Shs150,000 to Shs250,000.
A director’s overnight allowance rises from Shs150,000 to Shs250,000, as does that of a Chief Administrative Officer. The Assistant Inspector General of Police moves from Shs150,000 to Shs250,000.
A Medical Consultant’s rate increases from Shs140,000 to Shs230,000. An Ambassador or Foreign Service Officer in Grade 1 moves from Shs140,000 to Shs230,000, while a Deputy Director rises from Shs140,000 to Shs230,000.
Heads of departments in salary scale U1E also move from Shs140,000 to Shs230,000. Other officers in scale U1E see their allowance rise from Shs130,000 to Shs200,000.
Officers in salary scale U2 move from Shs120,000 to Shs180,000. Those in scales U3 and U4 rise from Shs110,000 to Shs160,000, while officers in scale U5 move from Shs100,000 to Shs140,000.
Officers in scale U6 see their overnight allowance rise from Shs90,000 to Shs120,000. Those in scale U7 move from Shs70,000 to Shs120,000, while officers in scale U8 rise from Shs55,000 to Shs120,000.
Night allowances for official travel outside Uganda
The revised schedule also increases overnight allowances for officials travelling abroad on official duty. These rates are listed in US dollars per night.
Political leaders
The Vice President’s overseas allowance rises from $710 to $920 per night. The Prime Minister’s rate increases from $670 to $900, while the Deputy Prime Minister moves from $650 to $870.
A minister’s overseas allowance rises from $620 to $850, while a minister of state moves from $580 to $820.
The Senior Presidential Advisor’s rate increases from $580 to $780. The Assistant Senior Presidential Advisor moves from $520 to $750, while the Presidential Advisor’s allowance rises from $520 to $720.
The Special Presidential Envoy’s overseas allowance increases from $460 to $700 per night. The Special Presidential Assistant also moves from $460 to $700, as does the Deputy Special Presidential Assistant.
A Resident District Commissioner’s overseas allowance rises from $460 to $700, while a Deputy Resident District Commissioner moves from $430 to $680.
Judicial officers and specified officials
The Chief Justice’s overseas allowance increases from $670 to $870 per night. The Deputy Chief Justice moves from $570 to $850, while the Principal Judge rises from $570 to $820.
A Justice of the Supreme Court moves from $570 to $780. A Justice of the Court of Appeal’s allowance also rises from $570 to $780, while a High Court judge moves from $510 to $750.
The Director of Public Prosecutions’ overseas allowance increases from $510 to $730. The Auditor General moves from $570 to $730, while the Inspector General of Government’s rate rises from $570 to $730.
The Deputy Inspector General of Government moves from $510 to $720. The Inspector General of Police rises from $510 to $730, while the Deputy Inspector General of Police moves from $510 to $720.
The Commissioner General of Prisons’ allowance increases from $510 to $730. The Deputy Commissioner General of Prisons moves from $510 to $720.
Local government elected leaders
A district chairperson’s overseas allowance increases from $400 to $600 per night. The district vice chairperson moves from $350 to $550, while district speakers rise from $320 to $530.
Members of district executive committees see their overseas allowance increase from $320 to $530. A district deputy speaker also moves from $320 to $530.
Mayors of municipalities and chairpersons of city divisions rise from $320 to $530 per night. Deputy mayors of municipalities also move from $320 to $530.
District and city councillors’ overseas allowance increases from $320 to $530. Sub-county, municipal, town council and municipal division chairpersons also move from $320 to $530, as do councillors in those local government structures.
Public officers travelling abroad
The Head of Public Service and Secretary to Cabinet’s overseas allowance increases from $570 to $750 per night. The Deputy Head of Public Service and Deputy Secretary to Cabinet move from $510 to $740.
A Permanent Secretary’s overseas allowance rises from $500 to $730. The Director General of Health Services also moves from $500 to $730.
A Senior Medical Consultant’s rate increases from $450 to $710. The Deputy Secretary to the Treasury moves from $450 to $710, while the Secretary of the Uganda Land Commission also rises from $450 to $710.
The Accountant General’s overseas allowance increases from $450 to $710. A director moves from $450 to $710, as does a Chief Administrative Officer and an Assistant Inspector General of Police.
A Medical Consultant’s rate rises from $390 to $680. An Ambassador or Foreign Service Officer in Grade 1 also moves from $390 to $680, while a Deputy Director rises from $390 to $680.
Heads of departments move from $390 to $680 per night. Other officers in salary scales U1 to U8 see their overseas overnight allowance increase from $360 to $650.
Day allowances for official travel within Uganda
The schedule also revises safari day allowances for officers who travel on duty within Uganda for six hours or more and return on the same day.
The document states: “Safari day allowance is paid when an Officer travels on duty within Uganda for a Period of six hours or more and returns the same day.”
It adds that the allowance is “paid to cater for lunch and other incidentals” and is “therefore not paid concurrently with lunch allowance.”
For political leaders, the Vice President’s safari day allowance rises from Shs21,000 to Shs165,000. The Prime Minister’s rate increases from Shs20,000 to Shs160,000, while the Deputy Prime Minister moves from Shs19,000 to Shs155,000.
A minister’s safari day allowance increases from Shs18,000 to Shs150,000. A minister of state also moves from Shs18,000 to Shs150,000.
The Senior Presidential Advisor’s rate rises from Shs15,000 to Shs140,000. The Assistant Senior Presidential Advisor moves from Shs14,000 to Shs130,000, while the Presidential Advisor rises from Shs14,000 to Shs130,000.
The Special Presidential Envoy’s safari day allowance increases from Shs14,000 to Shs130,000. The Special Presidential Assistant also moves from Shs14,000 to Shs130,000.
The Deputy Special Presidential Assistant’s rate rises from Shs13,000 to Shs120,000. A Resident District Commissioner moves from Shs13,000 to Shs120,000, while a Deputy Resident District Commissioner also rises from Shs13,000 to Shs120,000.
For specified officers, the Chief Justice’s safari day allowance increases from Shs20,000 to Shs155,000. The Deputy Chief Justice moves from Shs19,000 to Shs150,000, while the Principal Judge rises from Shs18,000 to Shs140,000.
A Justice of the Supreme Court’s allowance increases from Shs17,000 to Shs130,000. A Justice of the Court of Appeal also moves from Shs17,000 to Shs130,000, as does a High Court judge.
The Director of Public Prosecutions’ safari day allowance rises from Shs17,000 to Shs130,000. The Auditor General also moves from Shs17,000 to Shs130,000.
Implementation and budgeting
The September 21 letter directs the four programme implementation groups to work within their approved resources for the 2026/27 financial year and incorporate the new rates in budgets from 2027/28 onwards.
The ministry’s instruction is to “rationalise all your planned activities and fit them within the available resources in FY2026/27,” while future plans should be prepared “with this new information for FY2027/28 onwards.”
The letter was copied to the Coordinator of the Public Financial Management Reforms Coordination Unit at the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.
The revised schedule sets out the old and new rates for different categories of officials. The letter itself, however, specifically directs its implementation for activities under PIM Plus, REAP, UgIFT and Funds Coordination for Global Fund Grants.
You can see the full salary structure for the current financial year showing how much each employee category earns every month Here.
