Published on 25/06/2025
Minister of State for Higher Education, John Chrysestom Muyingo, has informed Parliament that Arts (Humanities) teachers who laid down their tools over salary disparities have agreed to end their strike, allowing Government time to address their grievances.
“Our teachers of Arts went on strike, and we have been engaging them in a number of meetings. Last week, their leadership agreed to call off the strike,” Muyingo told Parliament during Tuesday’s plenary sitting. “Government remains committed to improving the welfare of teachers and increasing salaries for all public servants in a phased manner. I expect feedback from their engagement with fellow teachers by Thursday, June 25, 2025.”
The Minister’s statement followed a stern warning from the Leader of Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi, who raised concern over the matter, accusing Government of turning a blind eye to a crisis that has disrupted learning in public schools.
“I’m sure you’ve noticed that Arts teachers are on strike over salary disparities. They argue—rightly so—that they are equally qualified professionals, yet they’ve been consistently sidelined. Government has tried to engage them, but they’ve stood their ground, demanding an end to this discrimination,” Ssenyonyi said.
He added that the standstill has left parents and students anxious, especially following threats by the teachers to boycott continuous assessments and marking if their demands remain unmet.
“Learning has come to a halt for Humanities subjects. Worse still, these teachers have vowed not to conduct assessments—meaning no marking, no grading. That’s a serious threat to the academic progress of our young people. It’s not fair,” Ssenyonyi stressed.
The Opposition Leader clarified that no one is calling for a reduction in science teachers’ pay, but rather a fair, across-the-board increment for all educators.
“These are all professionals with the same qualifications—degrees and diplomas—yet doing the same workload. Still, Arts teachers are paid significantly less. In some cases, Headteachers with Arts backgrounds earn less than science teachers they supervise. That’s not just unfair—it’s a management crisis,” he said.
Ssenyonyi cited the December 2024 Auditor General’s report, which revealed that some retired science teachers now earn monthly pensions that exceed the net salaries of serving Arts teachers.
“It’s absurd that someone retires and takes home a pension higher than what a serving teacher earns. Government must stop intimidating these teachers. In the past, there have been threats like ‘return to work or be fired’—that’s unacceptable. Just pay them fairly,” he argued.
He also called out what he termed hypocrisy within the Executive.
“This Government is run by people who graduated in the Arts. How then can we victimise Arts teachers while running the country with Arts degrees? What signal are we sending to the children?”
Ssenyonyi’s comments prompted Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa to challenge Parliament to provide solutions, especially after completing the budgeting process.
“We have just finished budgeting, so instead of simply blaming the Executive, let’s hear your proposals. How do we move forward? Because these salary increments can only happen if we budget for them,” Tayebwa responded.
Government Chief Whip Hamson Obua confirmed ongoing talks between Government and the striking teachers, while refuting claims of intimidation.
“As recently as yesterday, we were informed that the Ministry of Education and Sports is in active engagement with the leadership of Arts teachers countrywide. We should allow the Ministry time to resolve the matter and update Parliament accordingly,” Obua said.
He added, “Let me also state clearly—there is no intimidation. One of the reasons the NRM has stayed in power this long is because we believe in dialogue and consensus. That’s what we are doing.”
In FY 2022/23, Government enhanced salaries for science teachers by 300%, leaving out their Arts and Humanities counterparts in both secondary and primary institutions. As a result, graduate science teachers in secondary schools currently earn UGX 1,210,213 compared to UGX 1,078,162 for Arts graduates. Diploma-holding science teachers earn UGX 933,966, while their Arts peers earn UGX 784,214.
The December 2024 Auditor General’s report flagged the disparities as a major audit concern, warning of the long-term impact on Uganda’s pension burden. The report analysed pension and gratuity obligations for officers and commissioners in both science and arts tracks, each with 30 years of service, and found that the differences pose a growing financial liability to the state
The Minister of State for Higher Education, John Chrysestom Muyingo, has informed Parliament that Arts (Humanities) teachers who laid down their tools over salary disparities have agreed to end their strike, allowing Government time to address their grievances.
“Our teachers of Arts went on strike, and we have been engaging them in a number of meetings. Last week, their leadership agreed to call off the strike,” Muyingo told Parliament during Tuesday’s plenary sitting. “Government remains committed to improving the welfare of teachers and increasing salaries for all public servants in a phased manner. I expect feedback from their engagement with fellow teachers by Thursday, June 25, 2025.”
The Minister’s statement followed a stern warning from the Leader of Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi, who raised concern over the matter, accusing Government of turning a blind eye to a crisis that has disrupted learning in public schools.
“I’m sure you’ve noticed that Arts teachers are on strike over salary disparities. They argue—rightly so—that they are equally qualified professionals, yet they’ve been consistently sidelined. Government has tried to engage them, but they’ve stood their ground, demanding an end to this discrimination,” Ssenyonyi said.
He added that the standstill has left parents and students anxious, especially following threats by the teachers to boycott continuous assessments and marking if their demands remain unmet.
“Learning has come to a halt for Humanities subjects. Worse still, these teachers have vowed not to conduct assessments—meaning no marking, no grading. That’s a serious threat to the academic progress of our young people. It’s not fair,” Ssenyonyi stressed.
The Opposition Leader clarified that no one is calling for a reduction in science teachers’ pay, but rather a fair, across-the-board increment for all educators.
“These are all professionals with the same qualifications—degrees and diplomas—yet doing the same workload. Still, Arts teachers are paid significantly less. In some cases, Headteachers with Arts backgrounds earn less than science teachers they supervise. That’s not just unfair—it’s a management crisis,” he said.
Ssenyonyi cited the December 2024 Auditor General’s report, which revealed that some retired science teachers now earn monthly pensions that exceed the net salaries of serving Arts teachers.
“It’s absurd that someone retires and takes home a pension higher than what a serving teacher earns. Government must stop intimidating these teachers. In the past, there have been threats like ‘return to work or be fired’—that’s unacceptable. Just pay them fairly,” he argued.
He also called out what he termed hypocrisy within the Executive.
“This Government is run by people who graduated in the Arts. How then can we victimise Arts teachers while running the country with Arts degrees? What signal are we sending to the children?”
Ssenyonyi’s comments prompted Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa to challenge Parliament to provide solutions, especially after completing the budgeting process.
“We have just finished budgeting, so instead of simply blaming the Executive, let’s hear your proposals. How do we move forward? Because these salary increments can only happen if we budget for them,” Tayebwa responded.
Government Chief Whip Hamson Obua confirmed ongoing talks between Government and the striking teachers, while refuting claims of intimidation.
“As recently as yesterday, we were informed that the Ministry of Education and Sports is in active engagement with the leadership of Arts teachers countrywide. We should allow the Ministry time to resolve the matter and update Parliament accordingly,” Obua said.
He added, “Let me also state clearly—there is no intimidation. One of the reasons the NRM has stayed in power this long is because we believe in dialogue and consensus. That’s what we are doing.”
In FY 2022/23, Government enhanced salaries for science teachers by 300%, leaving out their Arts and Humanities counterparts in both secondary and primary institutions. As a result, graduate science teachers in secondary schools currently earn UGX 1,210,213 compared to UGX 1,078,162 for Arts graduates. Diploma-holding science teachers earn UGX 933,966, while their Arts peers earn UGX 784,214.
The December 2024 Auditor General’s report flagged the disparities as a major audit concern, warning of the long-term impact on Uganda’s pension burden. The report analysed pension and gratuity obligations for officers and commissioners in both science and arts tracks, each with 30 years of service, and found that the differences pose a growing financial liability to the state.
