The leadership and members subscribing to the Uganda National Teachers Union- UNATU have gathered at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds to meet the head of state, H.E Yoweri Museveni.
Clad in their uniforms orange and black, the Humanities teachers await a positive response from the President, following their vibrant strike.
The meeting comes as government teachers remain hard headed in their position to maintain the strike, despite various interventions from the President,Vice President, Minister for Education and the Ministry of Public Service.
Last week alone, the Union received two letters from the permanent secretary and Minister of Public Service, both committing to improve their salaries in a phased manner in the medium term.
The letters came after a protracted meeting between the teachers and the Vice President Hon Jessica Alupo failed to yield any results.
Following the government’s commitment, UNATU Secretary General Filbert Baguma, said the teachers would continue the strike until the government provides resources for their enhancement like it is with the science teachers.
“Government should address teachers’ needs, ” is the conclusion. No more assurances. All they want to hear is that money would be set aside to increase their pay in this financial year if they return to the classroom,” Baguma told our reporter before confirming their meeting with the president.
This is the second meeting between the President and striking union.
During the first meeting on June 18 , the President directed the Public Service to resolve issues of disharmony in salaries.
The teachers are demanding equity and harmonisation across the board.
UNATU has proposed that the government should pay shillings 4.8 million to graduate science teachers and shillings 4.5 million to those teaching arts and humanities. They are also advocating for a Shillings 1.35 million minimum wage for primary school teachers.
