Butaleja UNATU Chair Rallies Teachers to Sustain Industrial Action Over Salary Enhancement
Yokosan Higenyi, the district chairperson of the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU), Butaleja branch, told journalists at his home in Budumba on Tuesday that the strike is the only remaining option after several unsuccessful negotiations with government.
By Ambrose Wanagoli
Teachers in Butaleja District have been urged to stand firm in their ongoing industrial action until government honors its commitment to enhance their salaries, a pledge that has lingered since 2022.
Yokosan Higenyi, the district chairperson of the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU), Butaleja branch, told journalists at his home in Budumba on Tuesday that the strike is the only remaining option after several unsuccessful negotiations with government.
“Our resilience will eventually yield fruits,” Higenyi said. “We are demanding that the lowest paid teacher should at least earn UGX 1.5 million. The little salaries we earn today cannot help us maintain the dignity of a teacher, yet we are expected to upgrade academically, educate our children, and build decent homes.”
Higenyi explained that since 2022, UNATU and other trade unions have engaged the government in dialogue but were met with repeated delays and broken promises. With negotiations hitting a dead end, teachers in the district have resorted to a deliberate withdrawal of their services.
The industrial action has already disrupted learning across the district. Unlike Monday, when only Primary Seven candidates managed to attend classes in some schools, by Tuesday most institutions had completely closed their gates.
Local political voices have also weighed in on the matter. Yassin Mabale, a politician aligned with the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), applauded the teachers for taking a bold stand. He argued that government often responds only when citizens express dissatisfaction through strikes and demonstrations. “If entrusted to lead the country, FDC will ensure the lowest paid teacher earns UGX 1 million,” Mabale pledged.
However, school heads from the private sector expressed concern over the ripple effects of the strike. Paul Abukor, the headteacher of Maron Learning Centre in Busolwe, warned that persistent disruptions could push vulnerable learners into permanent dropout. On the other hand, Alex Hiitu, headteacher of Mango Groove Junior School, said his institution had gone ahead to administer beginning-of-term tests, particularly for Primary Seven candidates, to gain an advantage over learners in the affected public schools.
Butaleja District Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Mike Yoga, has appealed to teachers to reconsider their stance for the sake of learners.
“We need to uplift the academic standards of our district. This strike hurts both government and the future of our children,” Yoga said, adding that some striking teachers have their own children studying in well-equipped private institutions elsewhere.
The standoff in Butaleja mirrors growing unrest in Uganda’s education sector, where teachers across the country continue to demand fulfillment of salary increment promises. Until an amicable resolution is reached, the fate of thousands of learners remains uncertain.
