KAMPALA, UGANDA – The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has appealed to striking arts teachers to reconsider their boycott and participate in the critical final national examination exercises scheduled to begin this week.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The appeal comes amid a standoff between the government and the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU), which has directed its members to withdraw from all school activities until long-standing salary disparities with science teachers are resolved.
Through its spokesperson, Jennifer Kalule, UNEB clarified that the fees teachers earn for roles in examination management, including invigilation, supervision, and scouting are separate from their monthly government salaries.
Kalule stressed that teachers’ active participation is crucial for the smooth and successful administration of the exams, highlighting their indispensable role in ensuring the integrity and efficiency of the process.
She stated that their involvement is vital to ensure school-going children at all levels can sit their exams without interruption.
The national exams body’s plea follows a firm resolution from UNATU, whose General Secretary, Filbert Baguma, has accused the government of turning a deaf ear to their cries for equity over a long period.
The core of the dispute was formally presented to the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, on October 8, 2025. In a petition delivered at a meeting, Baguma argued that the demand for salary parity is a matter of fundamental fairness, not an excessive claim.
He further connected teacher welfare directly to national progress, stating that when teachers thrive, Uganda’s learners and the nation’s future thrive with them.
In response, Speaker Among directed Parliament’s Committees on Public Service and Education to convene immediately and conduct a thorough scrutiny of the salary disparities.
She also pledged to forward the petition to the Ministry of Public Service, instructing them to act on the teachers’ demands.
With the first exam will be the briefing of Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) candidates scheduled for Friday, October 10, the clock is ticking.
The Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) are set to begin on Friday, October 31, followed by the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) on November 7, 2025.
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