Teachers in Kamuli and Buyende districts have broken ranks with the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (Unatu), choosing instead to join the newly formed Uganda Liberal Teachers’ Union (Ulitu) Sacco Ltd.
“Unatu has disappointed, exploited, and abandoned us while benefiting from negotiations with government," said Daniel Mugabi, former Unatu chairperson for Kamuli Municipality.
"With all the unfulfilled promises of salary increments and teachers choking on multiple loans from moneylenders, we see a future with Ulitu and have voluntarily embraced it,” .
Lillian Naisanga, a teacher nearing retirement, lamented that the only tangible benefit she had received from Unatu was a corporate shirt given two years ago, despite monthly salary deductions for union membership.
“Unatu are mere barking dogs, like castrated bulls. They take advantage of our forced salary deductions and enjoy perks from meetings with President Museveni, while we suffer empty promises and sing songs of solidarity,” she said.
The teachers also raised grievances about salary disparities and what they termed as the unrealistic requirement of a degree for teachers at all levels—including nursery teachers, who are not even on the government payroll.
“Government woke up with scientists and forgot basic teaching cadres in primary schools, forgetting that teaching is itself a basic science," said Mubarak Kintu.
"The degree requirement makes teaching academic, not professional. In primary and nursery, we need methodology, not just academics. Nursery teachers cannot access the payroll, and a primary graduate teacher earns the same as a Grade III. Where is the motivation for omusomesa?”
Speaking at Tigs Hotel in Kamuli, Ulitu chairperson Andrew Kwete clarified that the new body is not a splinter from Unatu but rather an alternative association meant to consolidate teachers’ concerns, restore dignity, and revive professionalism in the teaching service.
“Ulitu is here to hold the profession together, respond to the appalling working conditions, and save teachers from loan sharks. Through voluntarism and solidarity, we can improve our lot and make teaching respected and dignified again,” Kwete emphasized.
Jackson Erima, the Ulitu General Secretary, together with Sacco Manager John Murungi, encouraged teachers to embrace the Ulitu Sacco, practice financial discipline, and develop a saving culture.
“We have accessed Shs6.6 billion from the President’s initiative towards teachers’ Saccos. We need to grow it, benefit from it, and use it for affordable loans. This will stabilise teachers financially and enable them to concentrate on their work,” Erima noted.
