The Acting Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Kumi, Mr. Kyomya James, has ordered the arrest of government head teachers and Teachers who have sent learners home in protest of the ongoing nationwide teachers’ strike.
Kyomya accused some strike leaders of conflict of interest, saying many of them run private schools where teaching continues while government schools remain crippled.
Speaking to the media at Kumi District headquarters on Tuesday, Kyomya said government will not tolerate what he described as “double standards” and “sabotage of education.”
He directed District Police Commander (DPC) and intelligence officers to monitor government schools and take action against teachers who have closed classes.
“You cannot run to private schools where your children are studying, while sending children in government schools back home in the name of a strike. That is selfishness, and such teachers should be arrested immediately,” Kyomya warned.
The order comes against the backdrop of a nationwide strike led by the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU).
The industrial action was sparked by unresolved disputes over salary disparities between science and arts teachers.
In 2022, government enhanced salaries for science teachers, raising their pay almost three times higher than that of their arts counterparts.
UNATU has consistently argued that the policy is discriminatory and demoralizing, calling for a harmonized salary structure.
Despite several meetings with the Ministry of Public Service and the Ministry of Education, no consensus has been reached.
As a result, many government schools, particularly in rural areas, have been paralyzed, with learners idling at home or loitering in towns.
Parents have expressed concern that the strike is wasting valuable study time, especially for candidate classes preparing for national examinations.
In Kumi District, the situation has been particularly tense.
Reports indicate that several primary and secondary schools have remained closed since the strike began, while a few continue to operate with skeletal teaching staff.
Kyomya, however, insists that government schools must remain open, stressing that education is a constitutional right for every child.
He accused certain “self-seeking individuals” within UNATU of exploiting the situation to drive learners into their private schools.
“If you have issues with government, follow the right channels. Don’t punish innocent children. Some of you are happy when government schools close because it boosts enrollment in your private schools. This is unacceptable,” he said.
Teachers in the district have reacted angrily to the RDC’s directives, saying the strike is a legitimate form of industrial action recognized under Uganda’s labor laws.
A headteacher who requested anonymity for fear of reprisals told this newspaper:
“Instead of threatening arrests, government should focus on addressing the core issue of salary inequality. We are not striking because we enjoy it. We want fairness. Arresting head teachers will not resolve the problem.”
Another teacher who is also a member of UNATU, said government officials were misrepresenting facts:
“It is not true that strike leaders are running private schools. The union is fighting for all teachers, including those in the most remote government schools. These intimidation tactics only escalate the standoff.”
Parents are equally divided.
While some support the teachers’ demand for salary harmonization, others fear that continued absence from school will harm their children’s future.
“Our children have already lost a lot of learning time during COVID-19. Now another crisis is here. Government and teachers must sit and agree,” said Sarah Apio, a parent in Kumi town.
Across Uganda, the strike has attracted attention from Parliament, where several MPs have demanded urgent government intervention.
The Ministry of Education has urged teachers to return to class as discussions continue, but UNATU has vowed not to back down until concrete commitments are made.
Education analysts warn that if the strike continues, it could destabilize the academic calendar and affect performance in the forthcoming Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) and Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) exams.
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The governmentneeds to put a productive answer to the teachers question, as far as the education and future of our country is concerned…
I urge parents to join in this concern.