Parliament has embarked on a major step to professionalize Uganda’s human resource (HR) sector through a proposed law that seeks to eliminate unqualified practitioners and restore discipline within the profession.
The Human Resource Management Professionals Bill, 2025, tabled by Workers’ MP Hon. Margaret Rwabushaija, introduces tough measures to regulate the HR profession through registration, licensing, and enforcement of ethical and professional standards.
If passed, the law will make it a criminal offence for anyone to practice as a human resource professional without a valid practising certificate. Those found in violation could face fines of up to Shs10 million or imprisonment for six months.
Offenders who forge documents or impersonate registered HR professionals will face even harsher penalties, including fines of up to Shs20 million or a two-year jail term.
“Last week, we lost a mother because she went to a fake doctor. Even in HR, we have fake practitioners who have no clue about managing people. This Bill will save organizations from such quacks,” said Hon. Rwabushaija while addressing a joint committee meeting on Tuesday, October 7, 2025.
The session was attended by the Minister of State for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations, Hon. Esther Anyakun, alongside members of the Parliamentary Committees on Gender, Labour and Social Development, and Public Service and Local Government.
The proposed Bill further provides that all practising certificates will expire on December 31 each year. Renewal must be done at least two months before expiry, a clause that has sparked debate among legislators.
Hon. Martin Ojara Mapenduzi, Chairperson of the Public Service and Local Government Committee, raised concern about the renewal timeline.
“The two-month renewal period could limit many individuals. We must consider what happens if one fails to renew in time,” he noted.
Wakiso District Woman MP, Hon. Ethel Naluyima, supported the Bill but questioned whether it caters for HR personnel in smaller enterprises and the informal sector.
“Many small firms rely on diploma holders managing dozens of workers. What happens if this Bill limits practice to degree holders?” she asked.
In defense, Minister Anyakun emphasized that the provisions are necessary to safeguard the credibility of the profession. “For you to be called a professional HR person, there must be a practical limit. This Bill inspires young people to aim higher, just like in medicine or law,” she explained.
One of the central features of the Bill is the establishment of the Human Resource Management Professionals Society, a regulatory body that will oversee the licensing, discipline, and registration of HR practitioners across the country.
The Society will be responsible for issuing practising certificates, maintaining a national registry of licensed professionals, enforcing ethical standards, and protecting HR practitioners from unfair treatment by employers.
It will also conduct disciplinary hearings and promote continuous professional development within the field.
Currently, Uganda has no formal legal framework regulating the HR profession, leaving room for individuals with little or no HR training to occupy critical personnel management roles.
The lack of oversight has been linked to poor recruitment practices, workplace conflicts, and unprofessional handling of employee relations in both the private and public sectors.
According to stakeholders, the Bill is a long-overdue reform. It is expected to set clear standards for HR education, certification, and conduct, thereby enhancing the integrity and credibility of the profession.
Public sector HR managers and professional associations have also backed the proposal but have urged Parliament to ensure the Bill remains inclusive.
They have recommended provisions that recognize diploma holders, related disciplines, and transitional arrangements for existing practitioners without formal HR degrees.
The proposed law aligns Uganda with other East African countries that have moved to regulate professional practice in specialized fields such as accounting, law, medicine, and engineering.
If enacted, it will mark a significant shift in the management of human resources nationwide.
HR officers will be compelled to meet higher professional benchmarks, while organizations will have to verify the qualifications of those managing their workforce.
The Bill is currently under scrutiny by the relevant parliamentary committees before it is presented for second reading and debate on the floor of Parliament.
