The Ugandan government has stepped up its confrontation with striking teachers of arts and humanities by giving them one week to return to work or risk dismissal, a move that has triggered sharp resistance from the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU).
The directive was issued by the Minister for Public Service, Hon. Wilson Muruli Mukasa, during a press conference held on Thursday at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala.
The Minister declared the strike illegal, arguing that it was disruptive to the education calendar at a critical time when national end-of-year examinations are fast approaching.
He instructed Chief Administrative Officers and District Education Officers across the country to strictly monitor teacher attendance and ensure compliance with the government’s order.
“Teachers who fail to resume duty within a week will be deemed to have abandoned their posts,” Hon. Muruli warned. “Government will not hesitate to replace them to safeguard the future of our children,” he added.
The Minister explained that the government has made consistent efforts to address teachers’ concerns through a phased salary enhancement program.
He pointed out that since the financial year 2018/2019, the government has already invested UGX 2.5 trillion in salary improvements for public servants, including teachers.
Hon. Muruli also noted that ongoing discussions have considered further measures to improve teachers’ welfare.
He revealed that the 2026/2027 budget planning process includes provisions for a 25% pay rise for arts and humanities teachers.
In addition, he highlighted supplementary measures under review, such as the allocation of UGX 40 billion for teacher SACCOs and possible waivers of Pay As You Earn (PAYE) taxes to boost teachers’ take-home pay.
The current strike, which began on September 15, involves teachers of History, Geography, Literature, and Religious Education across the country.
It follows government’s controversial 2022 decision to significantly raise salaries for science teachers, granting them a starting pay of UGX 4 million compared to UGX 1.2–1.4 million for arts teachers.
This disparity has fueled discontent among arts educators, who argue that the government’s policy is discriminatory and undermines the principle of equal pay for equal work.
Leaders of the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) insist that the imbalance devalues the critical role of humanities subjects in shaping well-rounded citizens.
In a swift and strongly worded response to the government’s ultimatum, UNATU Secretary General Filbert Baguma rejected what he described as a “heavy-handed” approach.
“Threatening teachers with dismissal will not solve the problem,” Baguma said.
“What we need is genuine engagement and binding commitments,” he added.
Baguma further warned that continued neglect of arts teachers’ concerns could worsen pupil-to-teacher ratios in schools, as many professionals may choose to leave the sector entirely.
He cautioned that this would inevitably lower education standards and jeopardize Uganda’s future workforce.
The ongoing standoff has now created heightened tension between government and teachers, with thousands of learners left stranded in classrooms across the country.
Education experts fear that mass dismissals of teachers could destabilize an already fragile system.
At the same time, a negotiated settlement would require reallocating scarce public funds, placing additional strain on the national budget at a time of economic pressure.
Observers say the coming week will be critical in determining the fate of both the striking teachers and their pupils.
Stakeholders in the education sector, including parents and civil society, are now urging both government and UNATU to urgently engage in dialogue to reach a sustainable agreement.
The question that remains is whether the standoff will end with compromise at the negotiation table or with punitive action from government.
For now, Uganda’s children remain caught in the middle of a battle that could shape the future of the country’s education system for years to come.
