Humanities teachers push for pay parity in talks with govt

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The Uganda Professional Humanities Teachers’ Union (UPHTU) has initiated negotiations with the government over salary enhancements and equitable pay for humanities teachers.

Talks began with the public service ministry, with further discussions expected to involve the education ministry, as well as the finance ministry.

Speaking at Makerere University on April 2, 2025, UPHTU president, Teopista Akello, confirmed that while discussions had commenced, no concrete resolutions had been reached.

“We had our first engagement with the public service ministry, but no conclusion was made. However, we have been assured that other key ministries will be brought on board to chart the way forward,” she stated.

Akello urged teachers to stay engaged in the negotiation process, emphasising that the union remains committed to ensuring fair compensation.

(L-R) Teopista Akello, UPHTU president, with Godfrey Osenda, chairperson for the SACCO Bukedi region (Photo by Jaliat Namuwaya)

“We remain hopeful that these discussions will yield tangible results in a short time,” she added.

Godfrey Osenda, chairman of UPHTU SACCOS for the Bukedi region, stressed the need for clear communication from the government regarding the phased salary enhancement plan.

“We need transparency on the phased enhancement. Which phase are we in? How much should we expect? When will it be implemented? These are the key questions that must be answered,” Osenda emphasised.

The salary disparity between humanities and science teachers has been a long-standing issue in Uganda’s education sector.

In 2022, the government significantly raised the salaries of science teachers, leaving humanities teachers struggling with stagnant wages.

Tonny Behika, UPHTU’s national secretary for planning, mobilisation, and organisation, reiterated the union’s demand for fairness.

“Science teachers have benefited from substantial pay increases, yet humanities teachers, who play an equally vital role in education, continue to struggle. We need a balanced approach,” he stated.

Teachers struggling to make ends meet

Many humanities teachers have expressed frustration, highlighting how stagnant salaries have made life unbearable.

Gertrude Athieno, a music education teacher, described the difficulties of managing daily expenses on current salaries.

“We have waited too long for the government’s promise of phased salary enhancement, but there’s no clarity. The economy has recovered, yet the cost of living is unbearable. Teachers can’t even afford school fees for their own children,” she lamented.

Athieno revealed that her own daughter, despite qualifying for university three years ago, remains at home due to a lack of tuition.

“It is disheartening to dedicate our lives to educating the nation’s children while our own remain at home due to lack of school fees,” she sadly said.

Behika noted that their salaries cannot even cover basic needs like housing, transport, and medical care, highlighting that diploma holders earn sh600,000 while degree holders receive sh750,000.

“We are all Ugandans. Why should one child eat supper while another sleeps on an empty stomach? We want enhancement across the board,” he added.

As negotiations continue, Akello noted that the teachers’ union hopes to have reached a resolution sometime in June this year. “We are committed to dialogue, but we will not compromise our rights.”