By Editorial,
As schools across the country prepare to open for the new academic year, the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) has signaled a shift in strategy amid continued disappointment over unfulfilled government promises to enhance salaries for arts teachers.
For many years, the opening of schools has been marred by familiar scenes: threats of strikes, delayed teacher reporting, and tense negotiations rooted in demands for fair pay and better working conditions.
In late January 2026, Parliament approved the Budget Framework Paper for the 2026/27 financial year. The document made no allocation whatsoever for salary enhancements for arts teachers, directly contradicting earlier government pledges made during the height of last year’s teachers’ industrial action.
Speaking to Journalists today, Filbert Baguma, UNATU Secretary General, confirmed the union’s decision to prioritize dialogue over confrontation at this stage. He recalled that during last year’s industrial action, which reached its peak amid a charged political atmosphere, the government had pledged to implement phased salary increases for arts teachers. END