President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni has delivered good news for science teachers and other scientists hoping to get a pay raise starting July 2022, but his message might have left arts teachers in tears.
In his speech at the commencement of the 72nd graduation ceremony at Makerere University on May 23, Museveni made it clear that government would prioritize salary enhancement for science teachers, and advised their arts and humanities colleagues to wait.
But he encouraged arts teachers not to lose hope, further assuring them that they will be considered in the future when funds become available.
“We insisted on giving good salaries to government scientists including teachers in the government Universities and secondary schools,” said Museveni in his virtual address streamed from Nakasero State Lodge. “This is not because we have forgotten the social scientists or art people. Not at all. It is because we can’t handle everything at ago. We have decided to start with the scientists.”
Besides the ‘limited resources’ issue, Museveni also explained why science teachers were more important that their arts colleagues.
“The reason we insist on science is that it’s the base of social-economic progress. The invention of fire caused big changes in society, the invention of the iron caused big changes, and gun powder caused many changes in the world for good and evil,” Museveni lectured.
“So science is the base for social transformation. The scholars and philosophers are students of social change but the trigger for social change is science. I appeal to Ugandans to understand this.”
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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).
