President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni’s government has bowed to pressure and invited striking secondary school arts and primary school teachers under the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (Unatu) for talks on resolving the ongoing industrial action.
The strike, which began on June 15, a day after Finance Minister Matia Kasaija announced salary enhancement for science teachers and other scientists starting July 2022, is currently in its 14th day.
Days after the strike started, President Museveni and his wife Janet Kataaha Kainembabazi Museveni, the minister of Education and Sports, met Unatu leaders. According to sources at the union, the president directed the ministries of education, public service and finance and negotiate with teachers on the way forward.
But on June 22, Public Service Ministry Permanent Secretary Catherine Bitarakwate Musingwiire issued a notice vowing to fire striking teachers if they refuse to return to class by June 24.
With teachers insisting they will not call off their strike, government has been left with a few options except to invite Unatu for talks.
According to a letter that PS Bitarakwate sent to Unatu general secretary Filbert Bates Baguma on July 27, a meeting is scheduled to take place at the start of next month at the Ministry of Public Service headquarters in Wandegeya, Kampala.
Titled ‘Invitation for a meeting with Ministry of Public Service on the ongoing industrial action,’ the invitation letter was received by Unatu on Tuesday, June 28.
“Reference is made to the ongoing Industrial Action by Uganda National Teachers’ Union which started on 15th June 2022,” read the letter, also copied to Public Service Minister Wilson Muruli Mukasa.
“This is therefore to invite you and four of your Union Executive Members for a meeting with the Ministry of Public Service on Friday Ist July 2022 at 2:00pm in the Ministry Boardroom. The Ministry will focus on issues raised for industrial action.”
PS Bitarakwate’s invitation to Unatu for a meeting came as the Ministry of Public Service changed its tone after threats of firing striking teachers failed to work. Minister Muruli Mukasa has denied reports that government will sack all teachers, saying this was just a proposal to gauge teachers’ reactions. (Read Story Here).
Meanwhile, the amount of money that President Museveni wants each arts teacher to be paid every month — as and when resources become available — has been revealed. (Read Story Here).
MORE ON ARTS TEACHERS’ STRIKE
In his budget speech read on June 14, Finance Minister Matia Kasaija announced that the salaries of science teachers, scientists and health workers will be increased in a ‘very big’ way starting July 2022. (Read Story Here).
Hours after Minister Kasaija read the budget for the 2022-23 Financial Year indicating a salary increment for teachers of science, arts teachers began their strike, making it clear that all teachers matter. (Read Story Here).
Government held talks with secondary school arts teachers and primary school teachers’ leaders under Unatu. After failing to convince the striking teachers to call off their industrial action, Museveni’s government through Public Service Ministry Permanent Secretary Catherine Bitarakwate Musingwiire, resorted to threatening teachers to either return to class or be fired.
But secondary school arts and primary level teachers under Unatu have fired back at President Museveni’s government, making it clear that threats of being fired will not force them to end their strike. (Read Story Here).
A group of MPs have also openly supported the arts teachers’ strike and told Museveni’s government to present a supplementary budget to Parliament with the aim of increasing salaries. (Read Story Here).
Relatedly, more government employees’ unions have threatened to lay down their tools in solidarity with striking teachers if government fires them, meaning that there could some sort of national shutdown. (Read Story Here).
MORE ON SCIENCE TEACHERS’ SALARY INCREMENT
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).
