President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni’s cabinet has approved salary increment for secondary school science teachers starting July 2022.
Science teachers, under the Uganda Professional Science Teachers’ Union (UPSTU), began their strike on Monday, May 09, demanding that government pays graduates Shs4m and diploma holders Shs3m starting in the next financial year (2022-2023) as had been promised by the presdient.
On the day the strike began, President Museveni’s cabinet approved salary increments for the teachers.
ICT and National Guidance Minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi has today revealed that cabinet resolved that each graduate teachers should have their salary increased from Shs1.1m to Shs4m while each diploma holder’s be boosted from Shs796,000 to Shs3m.
Museveni even directed Matia Kasaija, the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED) to ensure that funds meant for the raising of science teachers’ salaries is secured and included in 2022-23 FY budget before it is passed by parliament.
The science teachers’ salary increment will not affect how much had been set aside for other scientists and health workers. While Shs400bn had been set aside for the scientists, including teachers will now raise the figure to Shs735bn.
Government has now called on teachers to return to class and wait for the fulfilment of the promise for a pay raise. But by publication time, UPSTU leaders were not decided on whether to call of the strike or not.
They have insisted that government must offer them a written commitment so that they do not miss out again as has been the case with previous financial years. UPSTU leaders say the strike will not be called off until they have received commitment letters, convened the union’s national executive committee meeting and decided on the way forward.
Earlier, Education Ministry Spokesperson Dr Dennis Mugimba had told the science teachers to be patient, saying the promises for salary increment had been made on assumptions which had since changed. (Read Story Here).
MORE ON SALARY INCREMENT CIRCUS
In order to improve service delivery and end the challenge of strikes over low pay, President Museveni’s government has proposed huge salary increments for teachers, doctors and other employees starting July 2022. (Read Story Here)
The proposed increments have left many people wondering if government will really fulfill this pledge and increase salaries by very high amounts.
For example, opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye has argued that the promise of salary increment is just ‘another lie.’ (Read Story Here).
Finance Minister Matia Kasaija recently said the money for increasing teachers’, doctors’ and other civil servants’ salaries was available. (Read Story Here).
In August 2021, cabinet approved salary increment for teachers, doctors and other health workers. (Read Story Here).
See the salary structure that had been proposed for the current financial year here.
UPDATED LIST: See Salary Structure for All Government Workers
Meanwhile, an NRM MP has angered teachers after telling them they are too poor to go on strike. (Read Story Here).
