The Ugandan government has intensified its stance against the ongoing wave of strikes by public officers, declaring the industrial actions by teachers and local government employees illegal and warning of stern consequences for those who refuse to return to work.
Public Service Minister Wilson Muruli Mukasa delivered the warning on Thursday morning, stating that any government employee who fails to resume duty will be deemed to have “abandoned their post.”
He explained that the strikes, which began with teachers in mid-September and expanded to local government workers at the start of October, undermine the ongoing dialogue on salary enhancement and contravene the proper negotiation procedures established under the Public Service Negotiating and Consultative Council.
“The commencement of industrial action by some teachers on 15th September 2025 and the planned industrial action by Local Government workers from 1st October 2025, when discussions have not even started, is uncalled for and jeopardizes the cordial relationship the government has enjoyed with the Labour Unions,” Muruli Mukasa said.
Teachers have been away from classrooms for over two weeks, while local government staff across the country have just joined the strike, all pressing for immediate salary increases.
However, the government insists that salary enhancement talks are already in progress and must be conducted in line with legal frameworks and established procedures.
According to data from the Ministry of Public Service, 125,276 government employees have benefited from salary revisions since the 2017/2018 financial year.
Teachers are among the key beneficiaries targeted under the phased pay improvement strategy.
The ministry further reported that 77 percent of all public officers now receive salaries aligned with the long-term pay policy, although 66 percent have not seen any increase since the 2014/2015 financial year.
Despite the ongoing challenges, the government has pledged to continue with the gradual salary enhancement program.
This includes a planned 25 percent salary increment for teachers of humanities subjects, expected to take effect in the 2026/2027 financial year.
Minister Muruli Mukasa also revealed that proposals for additional salary adjustments for teachers, staff in public universities, and other underpaid workers have already been submitted to the Ministry of Finance for consideration in the next national budget.
He criticized the 90-day strike notice issued by labour unions, arguing that it failed to meet the legal requirements governing industrial actions.
As a result, he declared the strikes illegal and ordered all affected employees to report back to their workstations without delay.
“You are hereby enjoined to call off the industrial action, and for your members…to resume duty immediately and not beyond one week, or else you will be regarded as having abandoned duty and resigned accordingly,” the minister’s statement read.
To enforce the directive, Chief Administrative Officers, town clerks, district education officers, and resident district or city commissioners have been instructed to closely monitor compliance and take note of any officers who defy the order.
The government’s warning effectively sets a one-week deadline for all striking public officers to return to work, signaling that those who ignore the directive will face dismissal for job abandonment.
Through this stern communication, the government has made it clear that while salary negotiations remain open, defiance of established procedures will not be tolerated.
The message underscores the administration’s determination to restore normalcy in schools and local government offices while maintaining discipline and adherence to lawful negotiation channels.
