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Museveni Warns Striking Teachers to Return or Lose Jobs

08 October, 2025
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President Yoweri Museveni has warned that teachers currently on strike over salary disparities risk losing their jobs if they do not return to classrooms.



The warning follows a three-week strike by Arts teachers under the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU), who on September 15 laid down their tools to protest what they call unequal treatment in government pay structures. 

The teachers accuse the government of creating an unfair divide between science and arts educators after selective salary increments in the 2022/2023 financial year left out large sections of the teaching workforce, particularly in primary and post-primary institutions. 

While addressing residents of Lango on Tuesday evening, Museveni dismissed the ongoing strike as “selfish and misplaced,” saying the government has a long-term plan to harmonize salaries across the public service, but will do so based on national priorities. Museveni reiterated his belief that scientists are currently more urgently needed to drive development in key sectors such as infrastructure, energy, and industry. 

He accused striking teachers of undermining government efforts to rebuild the country’s education system, describing their industrial action as “betrayal” at a time when the government is working to improve free education and recruit additional teachers.

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