Go Back and Teach, Museveni tells Striking Teachers

President Museveni has advised striking teachers to go back to the classroom and resume teaching.

President Museveni, who was accompanied by First Lady Hon Janet Kataaha Museveni, on Monday met with leaders of the Uganda National Teacher’s Union (UNATU) in their regional clusters at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds.

The president assured them that while government acknowledges the issues raised by the Arts teachers, it is also aware of salary issues from other workers; the army, Police officers, etc who are equally important to the growth and development of this country.

“We have provided a position as government and pledged to competitively remunerate workers guided by a science-led strategy. This does not mean we have forgotten others, but we are choosing to prioritise the few and others can come later. We must finish one problem at a time,” Museveni told UNATU leaders.

“The Arts teachers insist that we should use the available resources to improve salaries across the board, whilst this is possible, it does not solve the salary issue.”

He said that is okumemerera (sprinkling) where everyone will get a little and then next year everyone strikes.

“We have a strategy and no one should disrupt us. We are aware of the issues and we are committed to handling them,” Museveni noted.

He added: “Therefore, my advice to the teachers is that they should go back and teach.”

The Arts teachers have been on strike for weeks now and insist they should also be renumerated like their science counterparts.