Workers urged to elect MPs who will defend their welfare

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Workers have been urged to elect aspirants vying for Workers’ Representative positions who will promote the labour movement and advance the welfare of workers.

The labour movement is a collective organisation of working people established to further their shared political and economic interests. It consists of the trade union or labour union movement.

Arinaitwe Rwakajara, the Chairman of the National Resistance Movement Workers league (L) and Robert Matukhu Secretary of the infrastruture, civil work and wood union at Eureka Hotel in Kampala. (Photo by Wilfred Sanya)

Robert Matukhu, secretary of the Infrastructural, Civil Work and Wood Union, said many people have joined the union to become workers’ representatives in Parliament, but voters should be selective in choosing the best five candidates.

Matukhu said the founding fathers of the labour movement introduced the idea of negotiating between employers and workers as the best solution for a win-win outcome.

He noted that Uganda’s labour movement is not weak but has been ignored, urging voters to choose candidates with workers’ interests at heart.

He made the remarks on October 25, 2025, while thanking workers for offering him the mandate to contest as a Workers’ Member of Parliament in the forthcoming 2026 elections in Kampala.

“We, brother and sisters, shall accept whoever takes the mantle; we shall accept the results and continue working together,” said Matukhu.

“However, to be elected, you must have leadership to serve them all, including those you disagree with. The Constitution gives us the mandate to choose our own leaders to bring our own people from the poor state they are,” he said.

He added that workers are in great pain, often ending up fighting among themselves instead of uniting for a common cause.

“The future of our people we represent is in our hands; if we succeed in doing the right things properly, they will be fine. So, when we waste time fighting and battling useless fights, the workers' future will be threatened, yet they are in millions,” he said.

He emphasised that their focus should not only be on gaining power but also on empowering workers for their betterment.

“We need not to tell them that their lives have changed, but they should be the ones to tell if their lives have changed.”

Arinaitwe Rwakajara, chairman of the National Resistance Movement Workers League, said they will not allow people to infiltrate the labour movement for selfish interests. He said they will continue urging voters to elect candidates who will uphold the legacy of the labour unions’ founding fathers.

He thanked workers for their candidature as Workers’ MPs, saying they made the right choices and should continue to select the best five.

Anthony Wanyama, one of the aspirants for Workers’ Representative, said what has been lacking is a person with a legal mind to front workers’ views in Parliament.

Arinaitwe Rwakajara, the Chairman of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Workers league, Robert Matukhu Secretary of the infrastructure, civil work and wood union being introduced by and Agnes Atwooki (R), the chairperson of the NOTU Women’s league as Workers MP candidates at Eureka Hotel. (Photo by Wilfred Sanya)

Wanyama, among 26 candidates nominated by the Electoral Commission, said his legal background makes him the right choice. He added that, if elected, he would work with other Workers’ MPs to amend laws hindering workers from enjoying their rights.

The general secretary of the Nurses and Midwives Union, Annet Birungi, said that just as she has promoted the welfare of health workers, she intends to extend similar support to all workers.

Birungi said she aims to encourage workers to join unions and SACCOs to improve their welfare. She said she wants to empower workers to strengthen their savings culture so that they can manage their own projects upon retirement.

Agnes Kunihira (NRM), the current female Workers’ MP, who is also contesting for re-election, said she has played a key role as chairperson of the Gender, Labour and Social Development Committee. Kunihira said her work speaks for itself and urged workers to do the needful on voting day.