Uganda’s education sector teeters on the brink as the ongoing teachers’ strike, declared by the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) and backed by labor allies, risks derailing the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) exams starting October 11 for over 430,000 Senior Four candidates. The action stems from unfulfilled government promises on comprehensive salary enhancements, with unions rejecting partial hikes as discriminatory. Retired Bishop Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira warned of systemic chaos, urging dialogue to protect learners. Schools report absenteeism spikes, and parents scramble for private tutoring amid exam anxiety. EditorPro Review: This strike exposes deep fissures in Uganda’s public service wage framework, where teachers—backbone of a 78% literacy rate—earn below living standards despite tax hikes funding elite perks. Economically, disruptions could cost billions in lost productivity, echoing 2023’s partial walkouts. Positively, it amplifies calls for equitable reforms, aligning with SDG 4 goals; a mediated resolution via tripartite talks could set precedents for nurses and civil servants. However, prolonged inaction erodes trust in Museveni’s ‘service delivery’ mantra, potentially alienating rural voters in 2026. With digital learning pilots underway, this crisis is a clarion for investment in teacher welfare to sustain Uganda’s human capital edge in East Africa. Urgent intervention needed to avert a generation’s setback. (218 words)
Source: Daily Monitor