Arts teachers in Rukungiri district have joined the country-wide protest demanding salary parity with their science counterparts, calling for an increment from the current Shs 620,000 to Shs 4 million.
Under the Professional Humanities Teachers Union (UPHTU), the teachers on Monday marched through Rukungiri town, chanting slogans such as “No money, no class” and waving placards that read “We want the government to honour its 2019 agreement”, “Article 40 commands you to pay us,” and “No money, no vote – humanities matter.”
The protest is part of a nationwide strike involving an estimated 120,000 arts teachers who accuse the government of discriminatory salary enhancements in favour of science teachers.
The arts teachers say the government committed in 2019 to increase their pay in phases, with implementation due in the 2025/2026 financial year, but no tangible steps have been taken. Fred Turamyomwe, the UPHTU coordinator in Rukungiri, accused the ministry of Public Service of diverting funds meant for teachers and excluding arts educators from recent salary enhancements.
“The government released money, but the ministry of Public Service excluded arts teachers from the benefit and diverted the funds,” said Turamyomwe. “Even in the recently read national budget, we were left out. So we’re saying, no money, no teaching, let science teachers do our work.”
His deputy, Elias Kizza, said the strike would continue until government fulfills its promise. He said arts and science teachers do the same work with the same qualifications.
Angela Boonabana, a teacher of English at St Gerald’s secondary school Nyakibale, said the pay disparity has undermined morale and status.
“Science teachers earn over Shs 4 million while we earn less than Shs 620,000,” Boonabana said. “This discrimination is demoralizing.”
Esau Isingoma, a teacher at Immaculate Heart Girls’ School, said arts teachers shoulder the same workloads and use the same public services, yet remain underpaid.
“This is unfair. I urge colleagues to boycott all educational duties teaching, exam setting, invigilation until the government addresses the salary disparities,” said Isingoma.
Sophia Busingye, an English teacher at Nyakagyeme secondary school, accused the ministry of Education of deliberately sidelining arts teachers. The strike has left key subjects including History, English, Religious Education, Business Studies and Fine Art untaught. Parents and school administrators have raised concerns as learners remain stranded and academic progress stalls.