RUKIGA, UGANDA – Presidential candidate General Mugisha Muntu has criticized the government’s policy of awarding disproportionate salary increases to science teachers a practice he says leaves arts teachers at a significant disadvantage.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The veteran opposition leader and former army commander made the remarks while addressing a spirited campaign rally in Muhanga Trading Centre in Rukiga district on Friday.
Muntu argued that all teachers form the indispensable foundation of the nation and should be valued equally, condemning a policy that leaves arts teachers struggling and creates an unjust divide within the profession.
“Teachers deserve the highest value, for every profession has passed through their hands. To favor science teachers with salary increases while neglecting their arts colleagues, who teach in the very same classrooms, is intolerable,” Muntu stated.
He emphasized that teachers, pivotal in molding every profession, deserve the highest government pay, a statement that underscores a growing national debate over equitable compensation across academic disciplines.
Muntu also pledged to prioritize standardizing and revitalizing government-aided schools to ensure they outperform private institutions, a reversal of the current trend.
He nostalgically recalled that public schools were once top performers before the ruling NRM government took power, a stark contrast to their current status as the poorest performers while private schools thrive.
“It is a profound shame to see very government schools, including those attended by the president himself, now underperforming and undervalued compared to private schools. This government no longer prioritizes education,” Muntu stated.
Beyond the education sector, the presidential candidate outlined a comprehensive plan to reform government systems, ensure proper utilization of resources, and eradicate poverty in local communities.
He positioned himself as a leader committed to systemic integrity and efficient governance, contrasting his vision with the current administration’s record.
Muntu’s campaign in the region is part of his broader platform focused on equitable development, institutional reform, and human capital investment, with teachers at the heart of his social policy agenda.