Teachers across Uganda have once again intensified their fight for better pay, bringing the long-running salary dispute back into the national spotlight. The renewed protests come as educators express frustration over what they describe as unfair and discriminatory salary structures within the teaching profession.
The latest development follows confirmation by the Uganda National Teachers’ Union that it has been invited by the Ministry of Public Service (Uganda) to attend a consultative meeting on the issue of salaries and welfare for public servants. The meeting is expected to provide updates on the government’s plans regarding salary enhancement.
According to union officials, the meeting will take place on March 10, 2026, at the ministry’s boardroom in Kampala. It will bring together government representatives and leaders from different workers’ unions to discuss the progress made so far in improving the pay of public officers.
For many teachers, the invitation comes at a time when tensions in the education sector are already rising. Educators have recently resumed industrial action, insisting that their concerns about salary disparities have remained unresolved for far too long.
The Uganda National Teachers’ Union has repeatedly announced nationwide strikes, urging teachers to stay away from classrooms in protest. Union leaders argue that the government has made several promises over the years but has failed to fully address the issue.
One of the biggest points of disagreement is the salary gap between science teachers and arts teachers. According to the union, the difference in pay has created deep frustration and divisions within the teaching profession.
Teachers say the situation is discouraging and unfair, especially for those who have served for many years but still earn far less than their colleagues who teach science subjects. Many believe that all teachers deserve equal respect and fair compensation regardless of the subjects they teach.
Figures from the Ministry of Public Service (Uganda) show just how wide the salary gap has become. Graduate science teachers currently earn a gross monthly salary of about Shs4 million, taking home around Shs2.8 million after tax deductions.
On the other hand, graduate arts teachers earn far less. Their monthly take-home salary ranges between Shs672,000 and Shs754,600, a difference that many teachers say is too large to ignore.
The situation is similar among teachers who hold diplomas. Diploma-level science teachers take home approximately Shs1.54 million each month, which is significantly higher than the earnings of diploma-level arts teachers.
Diploma arts teachers reportedly receive between Shs521,500 and Shs548,800 after deductions. This gap has continued to spark anger and disappointment among teachers across the country.
Because teachers form the largest group within Uganda’s public service workforce, the salary issue has major implications for the government’s wage policy. Any changes in teachers’ pay could affect the broader structure of public sector salaries.
Officials from the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (Uganda) say the cost of harmonising salaries would be extremely high. According to government estimates, raising the pay of more than 17,000 arts teachers to match that of science teachers would require about Shs509 billion every year.
Despite these financial challenges, teachers’ unions insist that the matter cannot be ignored any longer. They argue that the current pay structure undermines morale among educators and affects the quality of teaching in schools.
Union leaders say many teachers feel undervalued and demotivated because of the differences in salary. They believe that equal pay would help restore confidence and unity within the profession.
The ongoing protests have also drawn attention from parents and education stakeholders who worry about the impact of strikes on students. When teachers stay away from classrooms, learning is disrupted, affecting thousands of learners across the country.
However, teachers argue that the strike is necessary to push the government into taking meaningful action. They say peaceful demonstrations and negotiations are the only tools they have to make their voices heard.
Government officials have indicated that the upcoming meeting will serve as an opportunity for dialogue. The aim is to share updates on salary enhancement efforts and listen to the concerns raised by workers’ unions.
Union leaders hope that the discussions will produce clear solutions rather than more promises. They say teachers are tired of waiting for change that never comes.
As the meeting date approaches, many teachers remain hopeful but cautious. While they are willing to listen to what the government has to say, they also insist that real action must follow the talks.
For now, the salary dispute remains unresolved, and the education sector continues to feel the pressure. The outcome of the planned meeting could determine whether the strikes continue or whether a lasting solution will finally be reached.
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