The United Nations (UN) has selected Entebbe, alongside New York and Nairobi, as one of three global hubs for its consolidated payroll system.
This decision comes under the UN80 Initiative, a reform aimed at streamlining administrative processes and cutting costs.
Previously, the UN processed payroll through ten separate offices worldwide. By centralizing these operations, the organization expects to improve efficiency, strengthen accountability, and ensure smoother salary delivery through better oversight and automation.
The payroll hub plan has already been incorporated into the updated 2026 programme budget, which is now awaiting approval from the UN General Assembly.
Uganda’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Adonia Ayebare, said the achievement was the result of months of diplomatic negotiations in New York, closely coordinated with Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Economic Ripple Effects for the Region
Entebbe already hosts the UN’s Regional Service Centre, making it a natural choice for this expanded role. The addition of payroll operations is expected to bring significant economic benefits to the Entebbe–Kampala corridor.
Local businesses—including hotels, transport operators, IT companies, and logistics firms—stand to gain from the increased demand created by the hub. While direct job creation may be limited, the indirect benefits are projected to be much larger due to the multiplier effect associated with international agency operations.
Currently, UN activities inject tens of millions of dollars annually into Uganda’s economy. With the new payroll hub, this contribution is likely to increase further, depending on how many functions and staff are centralized in Entebbe.
