TEACHERS’ SALARY INCREMENT: UNATU Speaks on Figures in New Salary Structure and Taxes Starting July 2026

Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) has spoken out on figures on new salary structure and taxes following news of teachers’ salary increment.

Government secondary school arts teachers, primary school teachers as well as headteachers and deputy headteachers at both levels have been waiting for salary increment for years. While secondary school arts teachers have been demanding equal pay with their science counterparts whose salaries were enhanced in 2022, primary school teachers, headteachers and deputy headteachers have been complaining longer.

UNATU secretary general Filbert Bates Baguma has confirmed that the budget passed by parliament includes salaryenhancement for teachers who were left out by government’s decision to prioritize science teachers in 2022.

Baguma said that UNATU was awaiting the Circular Standing Instruction (CSI) from the Ministry of Public Service permanent secretary Catherine Bitarakwate Musingwiire. It is the CSI that will cast all doubts, and offer the finally approved figures.

Baguma has called for patience and told teachers of arts subjects and those in government primary schools to wait for the CSI.

“The budget was approved by the 11th parliament and the provision for salary enhancement for other teachers who did not get their enhancement in 2022 was captured,” said Baguma.

Now, we are waiting for the Ministry of Public Service to release the circular standing instruction. This is the one that will give us actual figures, and we should be patient and wait for it.”

The UNATU secretary general added that the CSI, an official communication detailing salary structures and enhancement for secondary school arts teachers and primary school teachers as well as headteachers and deputies would be out “very soon.”

“I know I have seen calculations on social media, people are trying to calculate, and indicating this and that, but let us wait for official communication which will come from the Ministry of Public Service very soon,” he said.

Baguma also addressed the issue of Pay as You Earn (PAYE) as passed in tax bills. He explained the threshold involved in the new tax laws, who is exempted and how. He noted that while “the threshold has been improved, “the tax remains something that is itching us as teachers.”

“In simple terms, up to this financial year and, I think, for more than 10 years now, the non-taxable amount of money one earns was Shs235,000. Now, this new arrangement will see you, as a salary earner, take home Shs335,000 without being taxed, which means there are even those low salary income earners whose salary is not going to be taxed because if you are in the bracket of up to Shs335,000 – it simply means anybody who earns 335,000 and below does not pay Pay as You Earn because that money is tax-free,” explained Baguma.

“Therefore, part of your salary that will be taxed is the difference from what you will earn and Shs335,000. So, it is not per se that you are going to have all the money chopped – that is not the case. However, there are those who are in the upper bracket who will be affected by the 40 per cent but that is people who are earning Shs10m and above and we are not part of that category.”

You can read about the approved salary structure for arts teachers and primary teachers whose salaries will be increased starting July 2026 HERE.

It should be remembered that other government employees expected to have their salaries increased starting July 2026 are RDCs, deputies and assistants, as detailed Here.

You can see the list of most highly paid Museveni advisors and State House staff Here, There and Over There.