Arts teachers plead for ‘any increment’ as govt again ignores their salary demands

The Uganda National Teachers’ Union (Unatu) has adopted a more flexible approach in its efforts to secure salary enhancements for arts teachers, expressing a willingness to accept even the smallest increment in the forthcoming national budget.

This shift in strategy follows years of unmet government promises and increasing frustration over the glaring pay gap between arts and science teachers. For years, arts teachers have been vocal about their struggles, demanding salary adjustments that reflect the rising cost of living and the critical role they play in the country’s education.

However, the government’s past attempts to address teacher pay have left arts educators feeling sidelined, especially after the controversial 300 per cent salary increase for science teachers in 2022. The substantial boost in pay for science teachers sparked widespread protests from arts teachers, who felt the disparity was unfair and inequitable.

In 2022, arts teachers threatened a strike over the lack of salary enhancement and ensions escalated when they staged a brief walkout, but the industrial action was called off after intense pressure from government officials, including direct threats from President Yoweri Museveni.

The president assured teachers that a phased salary enhancement plan would be introduced for all public officers, including arts teachers. However, nearly two years later, many feel that these promises have yet to materialize, with little to show for the government’s commitment.

“We have been waiting for far too long,” said Filbert Baguma, Unatu secretary general. “The government promised us a phased enhancement, but the reality is that nothing has changed. Arts teachers are still earning far less than their colleagues in the sciences, and this imbalance is causing unnecessary tension and frustration.”

Despite the lack of tangible progress, Unatu has decided to take a more pragmatic approach in their negotiations, acknowledging that the government may not have the financial capacity to implement a large-scale salary increase for all teachers, as it did for science teachers. Instead, the union is now calling for any increase – no matter how small in the next budget, as a first step toward addressing the growing pay gap.

“We understand that the government may not be able to make a huge leap in pay like they did for the science teachers,” Baguma explained. “But we are asking for something, even if it’s a modest increase, just to show that our concerns are being heard. If we get something in the upcoming budget, it will at least be a sign that progress is being made, even if slowly.”

The disparity in salary increases has created tension within the education sector, with arts teachers feeling undervalued and underappreciated despite their crucial role in shaping the country’s future leaders. Many argue that the wage gap between arts and science teachers is not just a matter of fairness but also of equity, with the current system potentially discouraging talented individuals from pursuing teaching careers in the arts.

As the government prepares for the next budget cycle, Unatu is urging policymakers to prioritize salary adjustments for all teachers, particularly those in the arts and humanities fields. With the cost of living continuing to rise, the union warns that any further delays could risk further unrest in the education sector.

“We are not asking for the world,” Baguma said. “But we want our teachers to feel valued and respected. If the government can make a start, even if it’s a small one, we will be willing to continue working with them. But we need to see some movement.”

Alex Mugenyi, a teacher in Wakiso district and father of three, is also backing Baguma’s argument. He explains that, as a teacher, he struggles to make ends meet due to rising costs.

“The gap between what we earn and the realities of daily life is growing wider. If the government addresses even a fraction of our concerns, it would make a significant difference in our lives,” Mugenyi said.

Currently, primary classroom teachers earn a minimum of Shs 499,684 per month regardless of their qualification, while secondary classroom teachers (arts) receive a minimum of Shs 960,288 for degree holders and Shs 745,000 for diploma holders. With these salaries, many teachers are finding it increasingly difficult to manage the rising cost of living.

During past negotiations, Unatu had at one point, argued that the government should either allocate additional funds to raise the salaries of art teachers or, for the sake of fairness, divide the existing wage bill of Shs 95 billion equally among all teachers. This wage bill was initially set aside to boost the salaries of science teachers alone. If shared equally among the 169,000 teachers on the payroll, each would receive a salary increase of approximately Shs 46,800.

However, in one of the meetings, President Museveni rejected the idea of distributing the available funds, dismissing the argument as illogical.

“The arts teachers insist that we should use the available resources to improve salaries across the board, whilst this is possible, it does not solve the salary issue. It is okumemerera (sprinkling), where everyone will get a little and then next year everyone strikes,” said Museveni.

Meanwhile, in the Budget Framework Paper recently presented to parliament, the ministry of Education has outlined eight key priority areas, with salary enhancement not being one of them. For the 2025/26 period, the ministry intends to focus on operationalizing the Universities of Busoga and Bunyoro, as well as the five campuses of the Uganda National Teachers’ Council.

Other priorities include constructing 60 secondary schools in sub-counties that currently lack them, renovating 25 secondary schools in selected local governments, and providing capitation grants for UPE, USE, UPOLET, and other tertiary institutions.

Additional areas of focus include strengthening the inspection functions of the Directorate of Education Standards, completing regional stadia in preparation for AFCON, and supporting research and innovation in higher education by promoting STEM and STEI initiatives.

But, all is not lost as the next few months will be critical for the government as they try to balance the demands of various public service sectors, including education, health, and security. For now, teachers are cautiously optimistic but remain firm in their resolve to keep pushing for fair pay.