By Edris Kisambira TEACHERS are moving closer to forming a union that will give them a platform for direct discussions with the Government. Already, the two associations that have in the past been uniting teachers, the Uganda Teachers Association (UTA) and Uganda National Union of Teachers (UNUT) have signed a memorandum of understanding, giving way for the establishment of the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU). David Muwanga, the President of UTA and co-chairperson of UNUT, said a task force to steer the transformed associations towards a fully-fledged union was also in place. Muwanga said this Friday at a workshop at Teachers House on Bombo road. He was addressing members of the committee that has been tasked with recruiting new members to the proposed union and educate them on it’s benefits. Muwanga said the task force, made up of a number of committees would go to the field, recruit members and educate them on the importance of unity. Muwanga they would summon a representative from every district in the country to form a body that would discuss a draft constitution. He said a delegates conference would be called to elect a proper government for the new union. “When the constitution is promulgated, we shall ask the Ministry of Labour to register us as a teachers’ union. We expect the union to be in place by August this year,” Muwanga said. He said when the union was registered, it would operate like any other workers union whose mandate would be to improve the teaching profession. “Then we would be able to negotiate with the Government on matters that affect the teaching profession including policy issues and remuneration matters to improve education in the country,” he said. Ends