After a heated meeting with government, the teachers met and resolved to teach the children of this nation; this was in a meeting chaired by UNATU chairperson, Margaret Byabashaija and the secretary general, James Tweheyo.

At the same meeting, the State Minister for Finance, David Bahati confirmed to the teachers government’s commitment to honour the promise next financial year as agreed in the meeting. The Information and National Guidance Minister Jim Muhwezi re-echoed to the teachers that government is very much concerned about the teachers and the education sector and asked them to get back to class.

Government agreed to have an increment of 15% in teacher’s salary next financial year and have their money directly transferred to their SACCO among others.

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The striking teachers under their umbrella body Uganda National Teachers Union insist that they will not call off the strike despite the intimidation from RDC security agencies and pleas from government. UNATU chairperson Margaret Rwobushaija said that they are meeting the minister of Finance tomorrow to forge a way forward but insisted that the strike continues.

According to district teachers and chairpersons of head teachers, they have faced different forms of threats from government agents coercing them to resume teaching. 

However, the Information Minister, Jim Muhwezi, castigated the former premier, Hon. Amama Mbabazi for making statements that are intended towards inciting teachers to continue with the strike but confirms that government will continue to dialogue with teachers until they get to a final conclusion.

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Ruth Nankabirwa, the Government Chief Whip, assured the nation that negotiations are underway with the Uganda National Teachers Union. “Government has embarked on negotiations with teacher representatives from all over the country. We are indeed concerned and working hard to see that we get a win-win situation” she stressed.

She further informed the house, that as much as it was still the same government that had signed the agreement, there were various factors that had changed. “Various factors have changed. Even in your homes you plan and sometimes you cannot fall through with your plans. You therefore change your plan with consultation of your household”

The agreement provided for an increase of teachers’ wages by 50 per cent, payable in three installments: 15 per cent in 2012/2013, 20 per cent 2013/14, and 15 per cent in 2014/15. As a result of this undertaking, UNATU called off a strike planned in 2011 on the understanding that the Government would honour its commitment of paying the 50 per cent salary increase. This is the third time that UNATU has called upon teachers to go on strike, because government did not honour its pledge.

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UNATU General Secretary, James Tweheyo

Teachers under their mother body UNATU have declared an industrial action that will see them not open schools starting Monday next week at the beginning of term two until government accepts to increase their salaries with a 10% increase as earlier agreed upon.

In a heated district leaders meeting held today at UNATU head offices in Kampala and chaired by the national chairperson, Margaret Byabashaija, the teachers agreed to kick off the strike today and keep it going until government accepts their call for 10% increase.

The teachers further accuse the education Minister, the President and Members of Parliament for telling lies to them on the issue of salary and the UGX.25 billion which was meant to be deposited on the accounts of the unions SACCO and has been disappearing in the hands of micro support finance centre Uganda. The teachers have also resolved to reject the said money.

The union’s general secretary, James Tweheyo confirms the strike and warns all RDCs and CAOs not to intimidate the teachers, and also urged teachers to respect the resolution until they get a final communication from the secretariat in Kampala.

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The Member of Parliament for Kalungu East Joseph Sewungu is in trouble after the government got intelligence information that he has received money from Uganda’s enemies to sponsor teachers strike.

Sources in Uganda government told our informers that Sewungu reportedly got some money recently from Rwanda to run the national teachers strike starting on Monday 16^th, July 2012.

The teachers Union announced that they will go on strike starting Monday 16th after president Museveni’s government failed to improve their welfare.

The sources in the teachers Union told us that they fully support the strike because Statehouse got over 200bn shillings last financial year to facilitate a few people but the engine of this country (teachers) is reduced to beggars.

Sewungu who denies being the sponsor of the teachers strike wonders how the teachers can teach other people’s kids when they can not afford to teach their own children.

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This follows the Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi directed RDCs to monitors schools and report to government those who did not teach in demand for 100% salary increase and be replaced.

Kampala member of parliament Mohamad Nsereko said that not fair  for  ,the prime minister to direct RDCS  intimidate teachers when are fighting for their right in terms of salary increase.

Nsereko said that Mbabazi should resign first instead of threatening teachers because for him has earned enough compared to teachers.

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The Spokesperson of the ministry Aggrey Kibenge says the ministry will continue negotiating with teachers about their grievances but they should also appreciate the challenges the government is currently facing.

He adds that the matter is now out of ministry’s control and President Museveni speaking about it makes their work easy since he has the final say.

Teachers under their umbrella organization, Uganda National Teachers Union petitioned the social services committee of Parliament and demanded a 100% pay- rise.

UNATU chairperson Margaret Rwabushaija says that they were surprised to get the President’s comment through the media.

Rwabushaija says since they have been communicating with government through their organization, which President Museveni should have used to get back to them. She insists a meaningful meeting should be set between them and the President.

There are about 152,682 teachers on the Government payroll in primary and secondary schools. Museveni said teachers are too many that even an increment of 100,000 shillings can heavily impact on the economy at a time when the shilling is limping against the US dollar.

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Addressing journalists at parliament Sewungu said that teachers are determined to go strike starting on 27^th as long as government continues to use such language.

Uganda Martyrs university students in class

Sewungu says that government has enough money to pay for teachers salaries but government is not prioritizing its sectors well.

He says that instead of threatening teachers government should dialogue with teachers saying that arrogance will not work.

He says that Uganda funds its budget by over 70% and therefore it should be able to pay the teachers accordingly because they are the ones that nature the country.

He says that government should stop at focusing on having many children in schools without considering the welfare of the teachers.

Sewungu also rejects claims that increase of teachers salary by 100% will worsen the current inflation as argued by Museveni.

The President recently warned teachers against going on strike saying their demands are not practical and there would be instability in the economy if the government increased teachers’ salaries by 100%, and would result in more government sectors demanding an equal salary increase.

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Students under their umbrella Uganda National Students  Association (UNSA) have set 1^stAugust as an ultimatum date for government to react on their demands and if fails they will conduct a peaceful demonstration.

Among demands include installation of lightening rods on every school building, immediate intervention on teacher’s demands before they strike among others.

UNSA National Secretary Shaban Ssenkubuge says that they have consulted every concerned party on the matter including writing letters to president who is the national patron of the organization but all ended in vain something forced them to consider a demonstration as the last resort. 

In addition, Ssenkubuge confirms that they will also conduct a peaceful matching across the country and they have already informed police on the matter.

Teachers have threatened to strike if the government does not increase their pay and reduce on some of the taxes on their salaries. Recently, traders and taxi drivers went on strike and the government is yet to find final answers to the issues they raised.

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The teachers through the national teachers union are demanding for 100% increase on all their salaries with the lowest teacher to earn 546000 shillings a month.

They also want an increase in the pay as you earn threshold from the current 180000 to 260000 shillings so that less of their income is taxed PAYE.

The teachers are also demanding for allowances for science teachers and teachers based in hard to reach areas such as Karamoja and Kalangala districts.

The vice chairperson of teachers union James Tweheyo says they will lay down their tools if government does not respond quickly to the request by 27th July of this month.

Tweheyo says the salary structure for some civil servants is unfair citing those earning 30 million shillings per month and a teacher earning only 200000 shillings something he said was unfair.

He says even the little hard earned salary has no value in the current high inflation in the country that has seen prices of most goods and services go up tremendously.

In a related development, the universal primary education and universal secondary education schools are said to be planning to close before the end of the second term due delayed posting of money for these schools to enable them to run the schools.

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