The Ugandan government has declared the ongoing strike by teachers and newly joined local government workers illegal, warning that those who fail to return to work within a week will be considered to have abandoned their jobs.
In an official statement issued on Thursday morning, Public Service Minister Wilson Muruli Mukasa said the strike undermines ongoing discussions about salary improvements and violates established procedures under the Public Service Negotiating and Consultative Council.
He criticized the timing of the strike, saying, “Starting industrial action when talks have not even begun is uncalled for and damages the cooperative relationship we have built with the unions.”
Teachers have been on strike since mid-September 2025, with local government workers joining them this month. They are demanding immediate salary increases to match the high cost of living and long-standing government promises.
Minister Muruli Mukasa reminded the public that since the 2017/2018 financial year, more than 125,000 public servants have benefited from salary adjustments, with teachers among the key groups. Currently, 77% of public officers earn according to long-term pay targets, but 66% have not seen any salary change since 2014/2015.
He emphasized that President Museveni remains committed to a gradual salary enhancement plan. This includes a proposed 25% salary increase for arts and humanities teachers in the 2026/2027 financial year. Proposals for increasing pay for other public workers have already been submitted to the Ministry of Finance.
Muruli Mukasa, however, said that the unions’ 90-day strike notice did not meet legal requirements and any action based on it is considered illegal.
“You are hereby directed to end the strike and ensure your members return to duty within one week,” the minister warned. “Failure to do so will be treated as job abandonment and resignation.”
Local government leaders, including Chief Administrative Officers, town clerks, education officers, and district commissioners, have been assigned to monitor compliance and report those who ignore the directive.
The situation has sparked nationwide debate, with some citizens criticizing the government’s threats and urging it to show empathy toward underpaid public servants. Others argue that strikes may not be the best way to demand change and call for long-term policy reforms instead.
As tensions rise, the fate of thousands of learners and essential public services hangs in the balance, awaiting the next move from both the government and striking workers.