As the country nears the start of the new school year across the country, the government has warned owners of schools that have not been licensed to shelf plans to reopen or face the law.

“I want to reiterate that such schools will immediately be closed and their owners prosecuted,” the Minister for ICT and National Guidance, Dr Chis Baryomunsi said.

He was speaking during a media briefing at the Uganda Media Centre on Tuesday, January 30.

During the event, the minister also said he was aware of plans by leaders of the Uganda National Teachers Union (UNATU) to disrupt the opening of the new school term.

He acknowledged that the issue being raised touches welfare, which is valid, but hastened to add that this matter is being addressed by the government.

“We made a decision to sequence the pay of all civil servants starting with scientists. That has been effected,” he noted, adding that plans are underway to bring other categories of civil servants on board, including teachers, pending acquisition of funds.

He noted that the government could not handle the enhancement of salaries for all civil servants all at once due to the enormity of the funds required, which were unavailable, adding that that is why science teachers and other scientists were prioritised due to their low numbers.

He said the prioritisation underscores the government's emphasis on the role science plays in the country’s socio-economic development of the country.   

He said he was not against UNATU making the demand known to the government but that this should be done in a civil manner.

“They should strive to engage the government rather than resorting to disruptive announcements,” he said.

Over the weekend, a circulated flyer, with UNATU colours and featuring images of the association’s secretary-general, purportedly announced a nationwide strike scheduled to begin on February 5, 2024, until the government agrees to demands for increased teachers’ salaries. The announcement gained attention on social media.

However, Filbert Baguma, the UNATU secretary-general, has since clarified that the association disowns the claimed strike announcement, urging the public and teachers to disregard the misinformation.

Baguma clarified that the circulated information did not originate from UNATU and encouraged members to rely on official communication channels or recognized media outlets for accurate updates.

The new school term is set to start on Monday, February 5.