Kamuli, Uganda: Teachers in Kamuli and Buyende districts on Monday reported for duty despite a call by the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) to lay down tools in protest over government’s delayed salary harmonization.
The teachers, who described UNATU’s industrial action as “ceremonial and routine,” accused the union’s leaders of using strikes as bargaining chips for personal benefits whenever they are invited to State House.
“We are tired of being used by leaders to push for personal benefits from negotiations each time they are called to State House and given something. Why is UNATU silent on UPE and USE grants?” wondered Samson Kintu, a teacher at Kamuli Township Primary School.
At Kamuli Township School, lessons were underway, with parents steadily returning learners. At Mbulamuti Primary School, teachers had turned up, but learners were still trickling in.
“Our teaching staff is ready and prepared, except that the pupils are few. We trained to teach, and the learners are innocent. It is not that we are defiant against industrial action, but realistically, we have pushed government many enough that any action becomes irrelevant and creates no impact in the struggle,” said headteacher Daniel Nkulaite.
Buyende District Education Officer (DEO) Dison Bwire confirmed that teachers had reported for duty, but many learners were still at home after being misled by UNATU’s media announcements. He urged parents to send children to school, stressing that the term is promotional.
“It is unprofessional for UNATU to use aggressive engagement on issues of professionalism and parade teachers for them to go to State House and get compromised,” Bwire said.
Kamuli Municipal Education Officer Ivan Wakabi applauded the full teacher turnout in the municipality, noting that lessons had begun smoothly.
Meanwhile, the Uganda Liberal Teachers Union (ULITU), a parallel teachers union, distanced itself from UNATU’s strike. Its Chairperson, Andrew Kwete, emphasized that ULITU believes in dialogue rather than confrontation.
“For us, we believe in negotiations and advocacy with the government for the betterment of both the employee and employer through peaceful existence and mutual understanding. We shall keep engaging and discussing, not coercing and creating circumstances to show that we are strong,” Kwete said.
Kwete further noted that the government met with all teachers’ unions on April 27, where President Museveni explained salary enhancement plans, which ULITU is now waiting to see implemented.
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