UNATU denies alleged nationwide teacher strike

The Uganda National Teachers Association (UNATU) has refuted claims of a planned nationwide strike set to coincide with the opening of the first term due to concerns over poor pay.

Over the weekend, a circulated flyer, with UNATU colors and featuring images of the association’s secretary-general, purportedly announced a nationwide strike scheduled to begin on February 5, 2024, until the government agrees to demands for increased teachers’ salaries. The announcement gained attention on social media.

However, Filbert Baguma, the General Secretary of UNATU, clarified that the association disowns the claimed strike announcement, urging the public and teachers to disregard the misinformation. Baguma clarified that the circulated information did not originate from UNATU and encouraged members to rely on official communication channels or recognized media outlets for accurate updates.

While acknowledging persistent challenges faced by teachers, Baguma revealed that UNATU is actively engaged in negotiations with the government to ensure the promised salary increase materializes. Despite commitments made by the government in previous fiscal years, Baguma noted a lack of indication in the current year’s budget framework paper regarding the implementation of these promises for teachers.

Ongoing negotiations between the government, facilitated through the Ministry of Education, and UNATU are addressing the challenges faced by teachers. UNATU’s leadership is expected to meet with Minister of Education, Janet Kataha Museveni, in the near future.

Baguma stated that UNATU will refrain from making definitive statements until the conclusion of negotiations, emphasizing the importance of awaiting the outcome before considering any industrial action.

UNATU has advocated for salary increases for teachers for years, with a commitment from the government in 2011 to implement a three-phased salary rise over three fiscal years. Despite incremental progress, recent dissatisfaction arose among teachers, leading to a two-week nationwide strike in 2022, triggered by disparities in salary increments favoring science teachers.

President Museveni, at that time, declared that the government could only afford to increase salaries for science teachers, with a commitment to address concerns of other teachers as additional funds become available.