Kampala, Uganda: The Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) has announced it will resume nationwide industrial action effective Monday, September 15, 2025, the official opening date of the third term, citing government inaction over what it calls “unfair salary disparities” in the teaching profession.
The decision was reached following back-to-back meetings of the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) on September 10 and Branch Chairpersons on September 11.
UNATU leaders said they had exhausted all avenues of dialogue, including written appeals to the President, the Office of the Head of Public Service, and the Ministries of Public Service and Education, but no progress has been made on their demands for salary enhancement for teachers left out during the 2022/2023 pay rise.
UNATU General Secretary Filbert Bates Baguma said the union’s patience had run out after three years of waiting for government to act.
“Our industrial action over the same issue was only suspended on July 4, 2022, to allow for negotiations. Since then, nothing tangible has been done. This time round, let the empty classrooms speak for us,” Baguma declared.
The teachers argue that while some categories of their colleagues enjoyed up to a 300 percent salary increment three years ago, the majority in primary and post-primary schools have remained excluded. They accuse the government of making empty promises while ignoring repeated calls for equity and fairness.
“All UNATU members in the affected categories will not report for duty when schools reopen,” the statement reads. The union emphasized that the strike is non-political, lawful, peaceful, and focused solely on achieving fair treatment.
“On Monday, 15th September 2025, let every affected teacher, in every corner of Uganda, remain at home. By staying away from school, we will send a clear and unmistakable message to Government that teachers cannot and will not continue to be ignored when they are contributors to nation building.”
UNATU’s action threatens to paralyze learning across the country as schools open for the final and most crucial term of the academic year, which includes national examinations for Primary Seven, Senior Four, and Senior Six candidates.
The strike also risks prolonging disruptions to the school calendar that has only recently stabilized after the pandemic and previous industrial disputes.
The union has urged government to urgently reopen talks and provide a “concrete and verifiable” commitment to end disparities, warning that the strike will remain in force until teachers’ demands are addressed.
“We urge Government to urgently engage with the Union and provide a clear commitment to resolve this matter in order to avert prolonged disruption of the school calendar especially at such a critical time.”
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