By Obed Kankiriho
The government plans to enhance and equalize the salaries of Arts teachers with those of their Science counterparts starting next financial year, State Minister of Finance Henry Musasizi has revealed.
Speaking at a fundraising event organized by Kakore Rugambwa Catholic Parish on Easter Monday, Musasizi, who is also the MP for Rubanda East, said President Yoweri Museveni had directed the government to address the long-standing salary disparities between Arts and Science teachers.
Without disclosing specific figures, Musasizi said the move is intended to ensure both categories of teachers receive equal pay, ending years of complaints over unequal remuneration.
Teopista Akello, President of the Uganda Professional Humanities Teachers’ Union (UPHTU), said the union had been briefed on the development but was still awaiting official salary figures from the Ministry of Public Service. She revealed that union leaders had met President Museveni and officials from line ministries on March 10, 2026, though at the time, the Ministry of Finance had indicated that no funds were available for the enhancements.
Akello noted that humanities teachers had planned to resume industrial action until two weeks ago, when the Ministry of Finance communicated the President’s directive. She added that the union had earlier been informed of a phased salary increment of 25 percent annually over the next four years. While the planned industrial action has been suspended, it has not been officially called off pending confirmation of the final figures from the Ministry of Public Service, which remains responsible for developing and implementing teachers’ pay and benefits policies.
Similarly, the Secretary General of the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU), Filbert Baguma, said he was only aware of the earlier proposal to increase Arts teachers’ salaries by 25 percent over four years. He noted that as the Constitutional Minister of Finance, the President has the authority to direct changes in budget priorities.
Baguma added that since 2022, when calls for salary enhancements intensified, the quality of teaching had declined due to low morale among Arts teachers. He welcomed the government’s renewed commitment to addressing the disparities, noting that while the intervention may come late, it is a positive step for the education sector.
