By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA
The Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) has temporarily suspended its 32-day nationwide sit-down strike to allow Parliament to investigate and address their grievances over pay disparities and welfare concerns.
The announcement was made on Thursday evening, October 16, 2025, by UNATU General Secretary Filbert Baguma Bates, after a closed-door meeting with national and regional branch leaders at the union’s headquarters in Kampala.
“The National Executive Council and branch chairpersons, in their special sitting held today, have resolved to suspend the industrial action to allow Parliament, through the relevant committees, to conclude their investigations,” Baguma told journalists.
He directed teachers across the country to resume duties immediately as the union monitors Parliament’s progress through three committees, Education, Public Service, and Local Government which have been tasked with examining the teachers’ concerns.
Background
UNATU launched the industrial action in mid-September 2025, protesting what they described as persistent government neglect of teachers in government-aided schools.
The union accused the government of implementing discriminatory salary structures, where some categories of teachers, particularly those in science subjects, earn significantly more than their counterparts in the arts and humanities.
Teachers also demanded better working conditions, timely promotions, and full implementation of previously signed collective bargaining agreements.
Despite several meetings between the Ministry of Public Service and union leaders, negotiations remained deadlocked, prompting the prolonged strike that left many government-aided schools non-functional for over a month.
Parliament has since directed its Committee on Education, Committee on Public Service, and Committee on Local Government to jointly examine the root causes of the standoff, review the existing salary structure, and make recommendations to government.
Baguma said UNATU’s decision to suspend the strike was meant to give lawmakers sufficient time to conduct these investigations and report back.
“This suspension is not surrender,” he emphasized. “It is a strategic decision to give room to Parliament, which is the institution responsible for budget allocation and oversight.”
He, however, warned that the teachers’ patience has limits.
“If Parliament fails to deliver justice, industrial action will resume — stronger, broader, and indefinite,” he declared.
Looking Ahead
Education experts have welcomed UNATU’s decision, saying it offers a window for dialogue and restoration of normal learning across the country. However, some teachers expressed skepticism, citing government’s slow response to previous agreements.
The Ministry of Education and Sports had not yet issued an official statement by press time.
