The long-running pay dispute between science and humanities teachers could soon be settled, after government signaled plans to close salary disparities in the next financial year’s budget.
Speaking before Parliament on Wednesday, State Minister for Primary Education, Joyce Moriku Kaducu, assured MPs that government remains committed to ensuring fair pay for all teachers.
“There was already a commitment from government of Uganda that we cater for our teachers at all levels. What I can say is that this commitment is being factored into the budget for the next Financial Year,” Kaducu said.
Pressure From MPs and Striking Teachers
Her remarks came in response to Abdulhu Byakatonda, Workers MP, who warned that the ongoing strikes had crippled service delivery in schools.
Last week, technical and vocational institutions declared industrial action. This week, teachers joined in, disrupting learning in the middle of third term. Local Government workers have also threatened to strike after serving notice, raising fears of wider unrest.
Byakatonda pressed government to urgently convene an inter-ministerial dialogue involving the Ministries of Education, Finance, Public Service and Local Government to find a permanent solution.
Government in Talks
Kaducu confirmed that negotiations with the striking teachers are ongoing:
“There is an ongoing industrial action, but there is also an ongoing dialogue. We are engaging teachers to come to a common table and agree.”
A Lingering Dispute
The pay standoff dates back to 2022, when government raised salaries for science teachers but excluded arts and humanities teachers. The move triggered repeated clashes with the Uganda National Teachers Union (UNATU), which has consistently called for equal pay for equal work.
With strikes now in their second week, schools remain in limbo as teachers demand urgent redress to the economic challenges they face.
For now, all eyes are on the next national budget, where teachers hope to see government’s promise finally translated into pay equity.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.
