The government has instructed Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs), City Clerks, and Municipal Town Clerks across the country to compile and submit lists of teachers who have defied its return-to-work directive, signaling a tougher stance against the ongoing teachers’ strike.
In a letter dated 13th October 2025, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, Ben Kumumanya, directed the local government administrators to furnish the Ministry of Public Service with comprehensive status reports on teachers’ attendance in their respective jurisdictions.
“Reference is made to the press statement issued by the Minister of Public Service on 3rd October 2025 requesting all teachers to return to class by 10th October 2025. In line with the above, this is to request you to provide this Ministry with the status report of teachers’ attendance in your respective local governments as at 13th October 2025,” the letter reads in part
Kumumanya instructed that the reports must be submitted by 16th October 2025, to enable the ministry to advise the government on the next course of action.
He emphasized that the information was urgently required to help the government assess the extent of compliance with the return-to-work ultimatum.
“The above information is needed urgently to enable the Ministry offer appropriate advice,” the letter further noted.
The directive follows the earlier one-week ultimatum issued by the Minister of Public Service, Hon. Muruli Mukasa, on 3rd October 2025, in which he warned that teachers who failed to resume duty by 10th October would be deemed to have abandoned their posts and risk dismissal from the civil service.
The move marks an escalation in the government’s handling of the teachers’ industrial action, which has stretched for nearly a month.
Thousands of humanities teachers under the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) have refused to return to classrooms, demanding salary parity with their counterparts in the sciences.
The strike, which began on 15th September 2025, has disrupted learning in several districts, especially in the eastern and northern regions, where compliance with the government’s return directive remains low.
Reports indicate that in some schools, attendance of both teachers and pupils has fallen sharply as uncertainty over the standoff persists.
While addressing the media earlier this month, Minister Muruli Mukasa reiterated that the government had already committed UGX 2.5 trillion towards salary enhancements for public officers since 2018 and would continue implementing the phased pay policy as approved under Cabinet Minute 502 and 509 of 2017.
He said that 60,077 public officers are already earning 77% of the approved long-term pay targets, adding that humanities teachers would receive a 25% increment in the 2026/27 financial year as part of ongoing reforms.
“Teachers have benefited from previous increments, and further adjustments will be made as resources allow. Industrial action before the dispute settlement process is exhausted is illegal,” Muruli cautioned.
With the new directive from the Ministry of Local Government, district education departments are now required to take a roll call of all teachers under their jurisdictions.
CAOs are expected to compile attendance registers and identify those who have resumed duty, remained absent, or submitted formal explanations for their absence.
Education analysts say the directive is a prelude to possible disciplinary action against teachers who defy government orders.
In previous years, similar exercises have led to salary suspensions or termination of contracts for teachers deemed to have deserted duty.
Sources within several district education offices confirmed that they have already begun compiling lists in compliance with the Ministry’s order.
In Soroti, Lira, and Mbale districts, some schools have reportedly reopened with partial staff attendance, though many humanities teachers remain off duty.
In response, the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) condemned the government’s latest directive as intimidation and a violation of teachers’ constitutional right to industrial action.
The union maintains that its members will not return to class until the government provides a clear and binding timeline for salary harmonization.
“Instead of compiling lists to punish teachers, government should focus on addressing the root cause of the strike, inequality in pay. The continued threats only deepen mistrust,” said a UNATU official who requested anonymity.
UNATU insists that the current pay gap between science and arts teachers, where science teachers earn nearly double their counterparts’ salaries, is discriminatory and demoralizing.
The union says previous negotiations have yielded only promises without tangible timelines for implementation.
Meanwhile, parents and education stakeholders have expressed concern that the prolonged impasse could jeopardize the performance of candidates preparing for the upcoming UNEB examinations.
With some schools reporting near-empty classrooms, learners in rural areas are the most affected.
“Our children have been at home for weeks. If this continues, they may fail their final exams. Government and teachers should find a compromise,” said Apolot Irene a parent in Bukedea District.
The Ministry of Local Government is expected to compile and forward the attendance data to the Public Service Commission by next week.
Depending on the findings, the government may initiate disciplinary proceedings, including withholding salaries or declaring positions vacant for teachers who fail to report back.
As the October 16 deadline approaches, pressure continues to mount on both sides to find a lasting solution.
While the government insists that patience is needed for phased pay reform, striking teachers argue that their patience has run out after years of unfulfilled promises.
For now, the fate of thousands of teachers, and millions of learners, hangs in the balance.
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The government should put salary enhancement for the teacher’s and teachers let no one scare as if is to leave work we are ready but we are tired to be deceved by diz government