By Shadrach Bethel,

Learners in Primary and Secondary schools across the country were on Wednesday left stranded after their Arts teachers embarked on a nationwide strike over government’s proposed discriminatory salary enhancement.

Government, however, has asked them to return to class immediately.

A day before the strike, the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (Unatu) made it clear that effective yesterday teachers should not go back to classrooms unless the government honours its commitment to increase their salary.

In the statement, Unatu said the leadership of the teachers Union countrywide had unanimously ratified the resolution of the standing committee that sat on May 23 to enter into an industrial action effective June 15, if there is no satisfactory feedback on the issues pertaining to teachers’ salary increment across the board for the Financial Year 2022/2023.

Addressing a press conference at Uganda Media Centre yesterday, Public Service Minister Wilson Muruli Mukasa said the government was aware of the previous discussions with the leadership of the teachers Union and is committed to the plan of enhancing the pay of workers in a phased manner.

The minister also noted that Education and Sports Minister Janet Museveni had called for a meeting with the teachers’ Union leadership on June 17 at which a way forward will be agreed upon and asked teachers to return to class.