STAFF REPORTER
The chairperson of the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU), Zadock Tumuhimbise, has issued a strong appeal to the government to address the pressing issue of salary disparities among teachers, warning of dire consequences if action is not taken. Speaking at the 19th Annual Delegates’ Conference for teachers at Agaba Center in Kabale Municipality on Tuesday, Tumuhimbise highlighted how the prioritization of science teachers’ salary increments has demotivated their arts and humanities counterparts, causing ripples across the education sector.
Held under the theme “Valuing Teachers’ Voices: Towards a New Social Contract for Education,” the conference brought together educators and stakeholders to deliberate on solutions for Uganda’s education challenges. Tumuhimbise criticized the discriminatory pay policy, describing it as a major contributor to declining teacher morale and the attrition of skilled educators.
“Despite raising concerns and fighting against these disparities, the government has failed to address them,” Tumuhimbise said. “This has led to significant demotivation among teachers who were excluded from the increments, resulting in many opting to leave the profession for other ventures.”
He painted a grim picture of teachers abandoning classrooms to pursue alternative livelihoods such as boda-boda riding, farming, mobile money services, or seeking domestic work abroad. Even more tragically, some have succumbed to stress and financial difficulties, resulting in cases of suicide.
“As a country already struggling with teacher shortages and high mortality rates among educators, we cannot afford to lose more teachers,” Tumuhimbise emphasized.
He revealed that UNATU has formally written to the Head of Public Service, urging the government to address the disparities and proposing a budget adjustment in FY 2025/2026 to ensure equitable salary increments for all teachers, including those in primary schools and arts and humanities.
The conference’s guest of honor, Workers’ MP Arinaitwe Rwakajara, supported the calls for equality, describing the selective pay increases as “unfair” and calling for immediate corrective measures.
“This is a pivotal moment for the government to show its commitment to promoting quality education. Valuing all teachers equally is a non-negotiable step towards achieving this goal,” Rwakajara noted.
The delegates’ conference concluded with a renewed commitment to advocate for equitable policies that will enhance the welfare of teachers and, ultimately, the quality of education in Uganda. UNATU’s leadership pledged to continue engaging policymakers and stakeholders to ensure no teacher feels left behind.
With the government expected to release its budget priorities for the upcoming fiscal year soon, educators and the public alike will be watching closely to see whether their concerns are addressed.
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