Speaker appeals to teachers to return to class as Parliament moves to address their pay concerns

KAMPALA– Speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among has pledged Parliament’s commitment to address the ongoing teachers’ strike, assuring members of the Uganda National Teachers’ Union that their concerns over salary disparities will receive urgent attention.

Speaker Anita Among said this today while receiving a petition from UNATU, led by their secretary general, Baguma Filbert, and she acknowledged the long standing issue of perceived preferential treatment between science and arts teachers, which has triggered a fresh wave of industrial action across the country.

The Speaker expressed concern that the persistence of the strike poses a serious threat to the education sector and the country’s broader human capital development goals, urging all teachers stop go back to work.

Among reaffirmed Parliament’s role as a people-centered institution, saying it would not only receive the petition but also take concrete steps to ensure it is addressed swiftly.

I will evoke Rule 31 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament to cause the expeditious consideration of this Petition by the relevant agencies of Government

The Speaker also noted that Parliament is still within the budget cycle, providing an opportunity to work closely with the Executive to explore possible adjustments to address their remuneration concerns.

She commended UNATU for opting for constructive engagement rather than confrontation, emphasizing dialogue as the most effective path toward a sustainable solution.

Baguma Filbert the secretary general for UNATu told the speaker that its now three years since teachers started waiting for what government is doing concerniung to increament of their slareis but nothing has been done.

Baguma has also requested the speaker to direct the committee of education which is going to scrutinize their petition to handle it as early as possible before its too late.

The teachers’ strike has left thousands of learners stranded as teachers push for pay harmonization with their science counterparts whose salaries were increased in previous budget allocations.