Workers’ union charts five-year strategic plan to better service delivery

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The secretary general of the Central Organisation of Free Trade Unions (COFTU), Sam Lyomoki, has said they have concluded a five-year strategic plan to improve their services in line with Vision 2030.

Lyomoki said they have developed perspectives, set priorities, and lined up activities.

He made the remarks during a planning meeting held in conjunction with Enabel Uganda, a Belgian agency, at Lena Hotel in Seguku, Wakiso district, on November 1, 2025. The meeting aimed to develop a working document to ease their operations, unlike in the past when they worked without one.

He said the Labour Union Act under Section 62 provides for the operation of COFTU as a statutory body under Ugandan law, which allows members to associate freely with the union to improve workers’ conditions.

Some of the members tht attended the Central Organisation of Free Trade Union (COFTU) planning meeting. (Photo by Wilfred Sanya)

“This working document is going to be completed by the workers to come out with a final copy. This will be the guiding document for our Secretariat,” he said.

He noted that two years ago, the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development signed a similar directive under their project.

He said Enabel would help implement the plan in digital form, as it had supported the National Organisation of Trade Unions (NOTU) and the ministry in developing an electronic data management system.

He added that this is a milestone that will help them achieve their goals over the next five years, serving as a guiding tool for all COFTU members.

“To us, we have a very clear direction and already have our priorities, and one of the priorities is workers' education and the aspect of organising the workers in the labour union. And we are looking at the economic empowerment of the workers and other priorities.”

“We have been able to simplify how these priorities can be achieved. We have increased membership contribution, have a stronger labour movement which is vibrant and a Union which is more functional," he added.

Lyomoki said he expects the workers to benefit more.

John Okecho, chairman of COFTU, said he was happy with the federation meeting that aims to improve services for its members.

“This strategic plan in any organisation gives direction in whatever you do, and without it, you are doing nothing. Your plans may not come true.”

“In the strategic plan, we wanted to find out what the core values are, and with this we need to be accountable to the people whom we serve with integrity,” he said.

“Today, we are experiencing labour violence simply because workers are not privileged to be aware of their rights in this country. But as leaders, we speak louder for people to join unions so as to help workers in matters related to their rights in the places of work,” he observed.

“We advocate for an industrial policy that will fight violations of workers' rights in the workplace.”

The assistant commissioner in charge of labour and industrial relations in the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Apollo Onzoma, appealed to the leadership to ensure proper maintenance of membership records.

Onzoma said all finances received and spent should be properly accounted for so that if the ministry needs to verify its activities, it can be done easily.

He advised them to seek redress using existing labour options before resorting to strikes.