TEACHERS' STRIKE: Here Are The Three Options Through Which Museveni's Government Can Find Shs557bn Needed To Increase Arts Teachers' Salaries

With just a day left to the start of a new financial year (FY2022-2023), President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni’s government, secondary school arts teachers have continued to stand their ground regarding their demand for salary increment in the same manner that pay for their science counterparts was raised.

Under their umbrella body, the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (Unatu), arts teachers in secondary schools as well as their colleagues who teach in primary schools reacted to the official announcement by finance minister Matia Kasaija that salaries of all scientists, including science teachers, would be increased starting July 2022.

What these striking teachers are protesting is a decision by government to increase the salary of a graduate science teacher to as high as Shs4m while leaving their arts counterparts earning below Shs1m every month, yet the two groups of teachers have the same qualification, attend similar schools, have an equal workload and go to the same markets.

The government’s response has been that arts teachers’ salaries would be increased in subsequent financial years, and that teachers should return to class and wait.

After striking teachers refused to return to class, Catherine Bitarakwate Musingwiire, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Service, issued a strong-worded statement threatening to fire them and replace them with those willing to work for little money as they wait for government to raise their salaries.

But it now looks like government is changing its stance. At least two high level meetings are expected to happen between top officials and leaders of Unatu.

According to PS Bitarakwate, up to Shs557bn is needed to increase salaries of arts teachers. The permanent secretary says there are three options that government can use to find the Shs557bn needed fir enhancement of salaries for secondary school arts teachers.

“For us [Ministry of Public Service] when we are given the go-ahead, we tell them [government] ‘this is what it takes’ and it’s up to them to pick what options,” explained Bitarakwate.

“We have had various options in the past. I don’t want to say they are going to be deployed now.”

She listed the available three options as ‘internal borrowing, supplementary budget and budget cuts.’ It is not yet clear if government will consider any of these options or stick to its guns that salary increment is not possible in the 2022-2023 financial year.

A section of MPs have expressed their backing for the striking secondary school arts teachers and their primary school counterparts, saying they are ready to support a supplementary budget to increase salaries for them. (Read Story Here).

You can read more of our coverage on the arts teachers’ strike below:

MORE ON ARTS TEACHERS’ STRIKE

In his budget speech read on June 14, Finance Minister Matia Kasaija announced that the salaries of science teachers, scientists and health workers will be increased in a ‘very big’ way starting July 2022. (Read Story Here).

Hours after Minister Kasaija read the budget for the 2022-23 Financial Year indicating a salary increment for teachers of science, arts teachers began their strike, making it clear that all teachers matter. (Read Story Here).

Government held talks with secondary school arts teachers and primary school teachers’ leaders under Unatu. After failing to convince the striking teachers to call off their industrial action, Museveni’s government through Public Service Ministry Permanent Secretary Catherine Bitarakwate Musingwiire, resorted to threatening teachers to either return to class or be fired.

But secondary school arts and primary level teachers under Unatu have fired back at President Museveni’s government, making it clear that threats of being fired will not force them to end their strike. (Read Story Here).

Relatedly, more government employees’ unions have threatened to lay down their tools in solidarity with striking teachers if government fires them, meaning that there could some sort of national shutdown. (Read Story Here).

The amount of money that President Museveni wants each arts teacher to be paid every month — as and when resources become available — has been revealed. (Read Story Here).

READ: VP Jessica Alupo Summons UNATU Leaders for Meeting to End Arts Teachers’ Strike

UNATU BOSS: Why Science Teachers Are not Scientists & Why Museveni’s Government Should Not Treat Them in a Special Way

READ: Besigye Man Reveals Shocking Reason Why Museveni Reportedly Hates Arts Teachers & Doesn’t Want to Increase Their Salaries

THEY WILL CRY: PM Nabbanja Insists Government Will Start Deleting Striking Arts Teachers From Payroll

MORE ON SCIENCE TEACHERS’ SALARY INCREMENT

IT’S OUR TIME TO EAT; YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN: Science Teachers Tell Their Arts Colleagues to Fight for Themselves as Government Promises Shs4m Monthly Salary Starting July 2022

GOOD NEWS: Museveni Cabinet Approves Shs4m Monthly Salary for Each Science Teacher Starting July 2022

MORE ON SALARY INCREMENT CIRCUS

In order to improve service delivery and end the challenge of strikes over low pay, President Museveni’s government has proposed huge salary increments for teachers, doctors and other employees starting July 2022. (Read Story Here)

The proposed increments have left many people wondering if government will really fulfill this pledge and increase salaries by very high amounts.

For example, opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye has argued that the promise of salary increment is just ‘another lie.’ (Read Story Here).

Finance Minister Matia Kasaija recently said the money for increasing teachers’, doctors’ and other civil servants’ salaries was available. (Read Story Here).

In August 2021, cabinet approved salary increment for teachers, doctors and other health workers. (Read Story Here).

See the salary structure that had been proposed for the current financial year here.