Speaker of Parliament Anita Among has appealed to teachers under the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) to call off their ongoing strike, assuring them that Parliament will push for the inclusion of salary enhancements for humanities teachers in the 2026/27 national budget.
The Speaker made the remarks on Thursday after receiving a petition from UNATU leadership at Parliament, in which the union demanded that government address the salary disparities between teachers of humanities and sciences across the country.
“As Parliament of Uganda, I want to promise you that we are going to do whatever it takes to ensure that these issues are resolved, and all these things are revolving around money,” Among said. “I am happy that you have brought this petition before we go into the budgeting time.”
Among emphasized that President Yoweri Museveni is fully aware of the discussions and pledged that Parliament will work closely with the Executive to ensure the long-standing pay gap is addressed.
“I want to request you, please go back and do the work as we handle this issue. Now that you have come to Parliament, there is no way Parliament will let you down,” she said. “The commitment I’m giving you is on behalf of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni because there is no way we can commit ourselves here without the President knowing. Whatever we do here, we work together with the Executive.”
The Speaker urged teachers not to paralyze learning, assuring them that their concerns would be handled expeditiously.
“Let’s not paralyze the country. Let’s go back and work and this issue will be resolved. It is in our best interest that you are happy, your welfare is good, because you mean a lot to this country,” Among said.
To expedite the matter, Among directed Parliament’s Committees on Public Service and Education to hold a joint sitting to scrutinize salary disparities between science and humanities teachers. She also instructed that the petition be forwarded to the Ministry of Public Service for immediate consideration.
“We are going to refer this petition to the Committee of Education and Sports together with the Committee of Public Service for a joint review so that they advise Parliament,” she stated. “In the meantime, we are also going to write to the Minister of Public Service and attach these petitions and ask him to act on them.”
UNATU General Secretary Filbert Baguma Bates reiterated that the union’s demand is rooted in the principle of equity, not excess.
“Our demand is not an excessive claim, but a measure to restore fairness and parity within the profession,” Baguma said. “It is the minimum requirement to align all teachers with their rightful place in the salary scales and uphold equity in remuneration.”
He warned that continued disparities could lead to more industrial actions, noting that “when teachers thrive, Uganda’s learners and the nation’s future thrive with them.”
UNATU’s petition follows years of contention over the government’s decision to enhance salaries for science teachers while leaving those in humanities and arts at previous pay levels.
