Mityana Municipality Member of Parliament Francis Zaake has called for better pay for teachers, saying the people responsible for educating Uganda’s children deserve greater recognition and improved working conditions. Zaake expressed concern about the financial struggles faced by some teachers, pointing to their worn-out clothes and shoes as signs of the difficulties they continue to experience despite their important role in society.
The legislator reflected on the emotional experience of meeting a teacher who taught him during his primary school years. Zaake said such encounters remind him of the people who contributed to his journey and helped him reach his current position in public life. He noted that his success is connected to the education he received from teachers who invested their time and effort in shaping his future.
“I find my own teacher who taught me in primary school and I feel like crying. I’m paid very well because of that teacher,” Zaake said, highlighting the contrast between his current earnings and the difficult circumstances in which some of his former educators live.
His remarks have renewed attention to the question of teachers’ salaries and whether their earnings adequately reflect the responsibilities they carry. Teachers play a central role in educating children, preparing learners for examinations and equipping young people with the knowledge and skills needed to contribute to national development.
Zaake also drew attention to the condition of teachers’ clothing and footwear, arguing that it is troubling to see people who helped shape future professionals struggling to afford basic personal necessities. For him, the issue goes beyond appearance, touching on the wider question of whether educators receive enough financial support to maintain a decent standard of living.
The call comes amid continuing public discussions about education funding, teacher motivation and the quality of learning in Uganda. Low pay and difficult working conditions can affect morale, while improving teachers’ welfare is widely regarded as an important part of strengthening the education system and supporting learners.
Zaake’s personal reflection also highlights the lasting influence teachers can have on their former students. People who go on to become politicians, doctors, businesspeople and professionals often owe part of their progress to educators who guided them during their formative years. His comments suggest that gratitude should extend beyond words to practical efforts to improve teachers’ welfare.
As the debate over teachers’ pay continues, Zaake’s message is that educators deserve better treatment from a society that depends on their work. His appeal raises a broader question for policymakers: how can Uganda ensure that teachers who help build the future of the country are themselves able to live and work with dignity?
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