Education Minister Janet Museveni to Meet UNATU Leaders over Teachers’ Strike

The Minister of Public Service, Muruli Mukasa, has said that the First Lady and Minister for Education and Sports, Janet Museveni, will Friday 17 meet with leaders of the Uganda National Teachers Union (UNATU) over the ongoing teachers’ strike.

The Leadership of the Teachers’ Union unanimously ratified the resolution of the Standing Committee that sat May 23, 2022 to enter into an industrial action effective Wednesday June 15.

The strike followed lack of a satisfactory feedback on issues pertaining to teachers’ salary increment across the board for FY2022/23.

In the 2022/23 financial year budget, government allocated over 400 billion shillings to enhance the salaries and wages of scientists that include health workers, scientist teachers, among others.

However, Arts’ teachers were left out.

Speaking at a press conference held at the Uganda Media Center, Mukasa said government is aware of the unfortunate decision by teachers under UNATU to lay down their tools.

He noted that under the leadership of the Rt Hon Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja, government has held a series of meetings comprising the Ministry of Education and Sports, Ministry of Public Service, Attorney General and Solicitor General to agree on the way forward regarding the issues raised by UNATU.

Mukasa added that government is aware of previous discussions with the leadership of the Teachers Union and is committed to the plan of enhancing the pay of workers in a phased manner depending on the availability of resources.

“As a matter of fact, enhancement of the pay of science teachers, scientists and health workers has already commenced,” he noted.

The Public Service minister called on teachers to remain patient as Government continues the implementation of the pay enhancement Plan, subject to availability of resources.

“We call upon all teachers to return to classes and teach.”

The Minister of Education and Sports has called for a meeting with the teachers’ union leaders on Friday to forge a way forward.