Arts and Humanities teachers have suspended their month-long strike following a high-level meeting with government officials aimed at addressing longstanding grievances over low pay and welfare disparities.
During the engagement, union leaders representing the Uganda Arts Teachers’ Association (UATA) held candid discussions with top government representatives, focusing on sustainable and practical interventions to uplift the status of Arts educators—particularly those affected by salary imbalances compared to their Science counterparts.
In a gesture of empathy and historical reflection, the government drew parallels with Uganda’s post-liberation era, where frontline soldiers were prioritized and institutional reform began with modest but strategic salary structures—such as the Shs3.5 million starting pay for the Chief Justice.
These early sacrifices, officials said, laid the groundwork for today’s stability and development.
Using that precedent, government proposed a multi-faceted support plan for teachers, including the construction of dedicated staff housing, free education for teachers’ children, and a phased 25% salary increment.
These measures, officials argued, would help bridge existing inequalities, boost teacher morale, and strengthen the education sector’s human capital.
“We acknowledge the validity of the concerns raised by Arts teachers and appreciate their patience and resilience,” said a government official involved in the discussions.
“We are committed to implementing phased but impactful reforms that reflect both fiscal realities and long-term commitment.”
In response, UATA leadership confirmed that teachers would resume their duties effective immediately, including the marking of Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) assessments starting tomorrow—averting a potential academic crisis for thousands of students awaiting results.
The government expressed gratitude for the teachers’ goodwill and reiterated its commitment to transparency and continuous dialogue to ensure the success of the agreed reforms.
As classrooms prepare to reopen and exams resume, attention now shifts to the timely implementation of the promised interventions, which will be closely watched by both educators and the public.