UNATU Announces Nationwide Strike over Arts Teachers’ Pay Discrimination

Teachers, through the Uganda National Teachers Union (Unatu)have resolved to lay down their tools over salary disparities. The move comes three days to the start of third term.

Addressing members at a meeting held at Unatu head offices in Kampala yesterday, the Union’s general secretary, Filbert Baguma, said all Unatu members from both primary and post-primary schools and tertiary institutions will not report for duty when schools officially open for the third term on Monday, September 15.

Baguma said The decision follows government’s continued silence on Unatu’s demand for salary enhancement for Arts teachers in primary and post primary schools and education institutions who were left out during the increments in 2022 that were given to Science teachers.

The last major UNATU strike in 2022 ended after a tense meeting with President Yoweri Museveni. The president told the union leaders that salary increases were not possible at the time because government had prioritized science teachers. 

UNATU suspended the strike to allow negotiations, but three years later no agreement has been reached. “Teachers have waited patiently, but government has remained indifferent. Industrial action remains the only option left,” Baguma said. 

He stressed that the strike is protected under Ugandan law and international labour standards and warned against intimidation or harassment of teachers. Education experts have over the years criticized government and president’s stand on the matter, arguing that humanities teachers are equally important. But President Museveni has repeatedly defended his position in several speeches, often using a firm tone. 

Filbert Baguma says that the government should urgently engage with the teachers’ union and provide a commitment to resolve the matter to avert disruption of the school calendar at this critical time.

Baguma’s announcement came a few months after another group on June 6 held a similar strike which they called off in July. The teachers of Arts through their Uganda Professional Humanities Teachers Union (UPHTU), were demanding that their pay be raised to the level of their science counterparts.

Graduate science teachers earn a gross monthly salary of UGX 4 million, taking home about UGX 2.8 million after tax. Graduate arts teachers take home between UGX 672,000 and UGX 754,600. Diploma-level science teachers earn about UGX 1.54 million net, while their arts counterparts earn between UGX 521,500 and UGX 548,800.