By Biiso FM Newsroom | Kampala
The Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) has suspended its nationwide strike, giving Parliament two weeks to resolve long-standing salary disparities between science and arts teachers.
The industrial action, which began last month, was triggered by government’s decision to increase salaries for science teachers while leaving out their counterparts in the arts and humanities — a move UNATU described as unfair and divisive within the education sector.
After weeks of negotiations with government officials, UNATU leaders met with Speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among, who directed the Education and Public Service Committees to investigate the issue and report back within two weeks.
Speaking during a press conference held on Thursday afternoon at UNATU headquarters in Kampala, General Secretary Filbert Baguma announced the decision to suspend the strike and urged teachers to return to work as Parliament handles their concerns.
“Teachers are patriotic citizens who have always chosen dialogue over confrontation,” Baguma said.
“We are calling upon all teachers to return to their duty stations as we await the outcome of Parliament’s deliberations. However, we shall not hesitate to take further action if no tangible progress is made.”
The announcement sparked mixed reactions among teachers. Some welcomed the decision, while others expressed skepticism, citing previous government promises that went unfulfilled.
“We have heard promises before that never materialized. This time, we want to see action, not words,” said one teacher after the meeting.
The press conference was attended by several Members of Parliament representing workers, including Charles Bakabulindi, Agnes Kunihira, and Arinaitwe Rwakajara, who commended teachers for embracing dialogue and urged government to act swiftly to avoid further disruptions in the education sector.
UNATU clarified that the industrial action had only been suspended — not ended, emphasizing that the union will continue to monitor Parliament’s progress and reconvene if necessary.
“Suspension of the industrial action does not mean surrender,” Baguma reiterated. “We are simply giving the authorities time to act in good faith.”
The move brings temporary relief to thousands of learners across the country who had been left stranded for more than a month as teachers stayed away from classrooms.
Stay tuned to Biiso FM for updates on Parliament’s response to the teachers’ demands.
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