"Stop The Strike Or We Fire You" Museveni’s Gov't Boldly Tells Arts Teachers

The government has issued a stern warning to teachers on strike, telling them to return to class immediately or risk losing their jobs. The move comes amid ongoing disputes over salary increases.

Minister of Public Service, Muruli Mukasa, made the announcement on Thursday, emphasizing that continued absence from duty would be treated as self-dismissal. He urged teachers to resume work without delay.

“If you don’t return to class, it means you are no longer interested in the job, and you will have dismissed yourself. Action will be taken to fill your gap. I am saying, go back to work immediately. I’m appealing to you, go back,” Mukasa said.

The strike has affected teachers in primary and post-primary schools, as well as in other educational institutions. It follows demands from the Uganda National Teachers Union (UNATU) for salary enhancements. The union formally notified the Ministry of Public Service of the industrial action on August 25, 2025, with a reminder sent on September 10.

Several government ministries—including Public Service, Education and Sports, and Gender, Labour and Social Development—met with UNATU leaders on September 16, but no agreement was reached.

This is not the first dispute over teacher salaries this year. On June 29, 2025, President Yoweri Museveni met the Uganda Professional Humanities Teachers Union (UPHTU) at State House, Entebbe. He pledged to pursue phased salary increments and committed to enhancing humanities teachers’ salaries by 25% of the 77% approved long-term pay targets in the 2026/2027 financial year.

The Ministry of Public Service says that achieving salary enhancements for humanities teachers, public universities, primary school teachers, and other public officers earning below 25% of the 77% targets would require UGX 1.4 trillion. This figure has already been submitted to the Ministry of Finance for budget consideration.

Despite these discussions, Minister Mukasa stressed that teachers must return to duty immediately while negotiations continue. He warned that those who fail to report would be considered AWOL—absent without official leave.

“If you are upcountry, at least when you hear this, make sure you go to your station on Monday. If you don’t appear, you will be considered AWOL—away without official leave. And you know, nature abhors a vacuum. Something will be done to fill that vacuum you’ve left,” Mukasa said.

The standoff now depends on whether teachers heed the government’s warning or continue their strike as demands for higher pay intensify. The coming days will be critical in determining the resolution of this industrial action and its impact on Uganda’s education system.

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