Outline:
Teachers Across Uganda Plan to Strike as Salary Disparity Remains Unresolved
Teachers in Uganda are preparing for a significant industrial action, with the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (Unatu) announcing that all its members from primary, post-primary, and tertiary institutions will not report for duty when schools officially open for the third term on September 15. This decision follows months of unresolved disputes over salary enhancements, which have led to growing frustration among educators.
The union’s general secretary, Mr. Filbert Baguma, made the announcement after a special meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) held on September 10, 2025, and subsequent discussions with branch chairpersons. According to Baguma, the strike is a direct response to the government’s continued silence on the demand for salary increases for all categories of teachers, particularly those who were excluded during the financial year 2022/2023 salary increments.
This move comes just three days before the start of the third term, marking another wave of protests by educators who have long been dissatisfied with their compensation. The current pay structure highlights a stark disparity between humanities and science teachers. For instance, an Arts teacher with a degree earns a gross monthly salary of Shs1,078,162, while their science counterpart earns Shs4 million. Similarly, an Arts teacher with a diploma qualification receives Shs784,214, compared to Shs2.2 million for a science teacher.
Previous Attempts at Negotiation
In July 2025, a similar group of humanities teachers, represented by the Uganda Professional Humanitarian Teachers Union (UPHTU), had previously laid down their tools in protest. They met with President Yoweri Museveni at Entebbe State House, demanding higher salaries to match those of science teachers. During this meeting, the president assured them that their salaries would be increased by 25% over four consecutive years starting from the 2026/27 financial year. He also pledged to reduce the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax on teachers’ salaries from 30% to 10%, and to invest more in teachers’ Saccos and provide staff housing.
Following this, State Minister for Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Mr. Amos Lugoolobi, announced that an additional Shs509 billion would be allocated for wage provisions, spread over four years in the medium-term expenditure framework. In addition, Shs540 billion was pledged for housing projects. Despite these commitments, the issue remains unresolved, leading to renewed strikes by different groups of teachers.
Government Response and Calls for Patience
The Ministry of Education and Sports has urged Unatu to abandon the planned strike, stating that the government is already considering the concerns raised by teachers. Dennis Mugimba, the ministry’s spokesperson, emphasized the need for patience, noting that President Museveni has already committed to improving the welfare of affected teachers. “They met with the President the other month, and the message remains the same,” he said. “What the President promised the other group applies to them. I encourage them to be patient and wait for the Presidential directive to be implemented.”
However, the union remains unconvinced, citing repeated attempts to engage with the government through formal communication with the office of the President and the Head of Public Service, as well as the ministries of Public Service and Education. These efforts, according to Baguma, have fallen on deaf ears. “Fellow teachers, this is a moment of truth,” he stated. “We must ask ourselves, how much longer will we wait? The answer is clear: if you are unhappy, let the empty classrooms speak for us. Let our absences from school compounds be louder than the excuses of government.”
Impact on Education Sector
The ongoing dispute has sparked debates about the broader implications of the strike. Ms. Angella Kasule, a human rights activist and director of Initiation for Social and Economic Rights (ISER), supports Unatu’s decision, arguing that teachers are entitled to adequate pay. “You know teachers are workers, and they are entitled to adequate pay. If the government has come up to promise salary enhancement, it should honour it,” she said.
Mr. Yusuf Miziransa, spokesperson for the Equal Opportunities Commission, called on the government to fast-track salary enhancements for arts teachers but also urged patience as resources are mobilized. He acknowledged that strikes negatively impact all stakeholders in the education sector, including parents, students, and the ministry itself.
As the situation continues to unfold, the education sector in Uganda remains on edge, with the potential for further disruptions unless a resolution is reached. The government faces mounting pressure to address the grievances of teachers while balancing the needs of students and families.