By KT Reporter
Workers’ Representative in Parliament, Dr Abdul Byakatonda, has called on the government to prioritise transparency and open communication among line ministries to resolve the ongoing teachers’ strike led by arts and humanities educators.
The strike, initiated by the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) on Monday at the start of the third term, demands salary parity with science teachers, disrupting learning, particularly in rural schools.
Byakatonda urged the government to convene an urgent inter-ministerial meeting involving the Ministries of Local Government, Education and Sports, Public Service, Finance, Planning, and Economic Development to address the salary disparities.
He referred to a July dialogue at State House, chaired by President Yoweri Museveni, where commitments to resolve the issue were made but remain unfulfilled. “Last week, technical and vocational schools declared industrial action, and now arts teachers have followed suit. Local government workers have also issued a 90-day strike notice. This disrupts service delivery and jeopardises our education system,” Byakatonda said during a plenary session.
Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa directed State Minister for Primary Education, Joyce Moriku Kaducu, to update Parliament on the matter.
Kaducu acknowledged ongoing negotiations and confirmed that salary enhancements for arts teachers are under consideration for the 2025/26 financial year budget. “The government remains committed to addressing teachers’ concerns at all levels. We’ve just begun the budgeting cycle for 2026/27, and these commitments are being factored in,” she assured the House.
The UNATU strike stems from long-standing grievances over pay disparities. Graduate science teachers earn a net monthly salary of approximately UGX 2.8 million, while their arts counterparts take home between UGX 672,000 and UGX 754,600. Diploma-level science teachers earn about UGX 1.54 million, compared to UGX 521,500–548,800 for arts teachers. According to the Ministry of Finance, closing this gap for over 17,000 arts teachers would cost approximately UGX 509 billion annually.
UNATU General Secretary Filbert Baguma told Uganda Radio Network (URN) that the strike follows three years of stalled negotiations. “Despite petitions, reminders, and letters to the President, the Head of Public Service, and relevant ministries, the government has failed to provide a clear plan,” Baguma said.
A 2022 UNATU strike ended after a tense meeting with President Museveni, who cited budget constraints and prioritised science teachers’ salaries. Promises of phased salary increases and a reduction in the Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) tax rate for teachers remain unimplemented.
Earlier this year, the Uganda Professional Humanities Teachers Union staged a week-long strike, which ended after negotiations at State House. A UGX 20-billion fund was allocated for the arts teachers’ SACCO, but broader pay issues persist.
Teachers, who form the largest segment of Uganda’s public service, continue to demand better pay and working conditions.
The current strike has also seen participation from Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) tutors, amplifying calls for sector-wide reform.
As schools remain disrupted, Byakatonda emphasised the need for swift action to restore stability in education. “An inter-ministerial dialogue is critical to address teachers’ grievances and ensure smooth learning,” he said. The government’s response in the coming weeks will be pivotal in averting further escalation and restoring normalcy to Uganda’s education system.
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