KAMPALA, UGANDA – The Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni, has lauded educators for choosing dialogue and calling off a prolonged industrial action.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The Minister’s remarks follow the suspension of the strike, which began last month at the start of the third term and had threatened to derail the academic term for millions of students in Uganda.
Following intensive negotiations between the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) and government officials, the teachers’ leaders announced last week that they would return to classes this week on Monday.
The core of the dispute centred on longstanding welfare concerns, including issues of salary enhancement, timely payment, and better working conditions.
Minister Janet Museveni expressed gratitude for the teachers’ patriotic decision to end their strike and return to the classroom, choosing dialogue over confrontation as the government continues to address their welfare concerns.
“I thank God that our teachers have chosen dialogue and unity over confrontation and have returned to class, showing patriotism by suspending the industrial action as we continue addressing their welfare concerns,” the Minister stated.
She went on to attribute the breakthrough in the negotiations to divine intervention, underscoring her belief in the government’s genuine concern for its workforce.
The return of teachers to their classrooms is expected to end a period of anxiety for parents and students, safeguarding the current school term and allowing students to prepare for critical examinations without further disruption.
While the immediate crisis has been defused, the path forward requires continued engagement, with the teachers’ suspension of their strike acting as a gesture of goodwill predicated on the government’s commitment to substantive negotiations over their welfare.
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