By Melanie Aanyu,

The ministry of public service has invited leaders of the Uganda National Teachers Union (UNATU) for a meeting scheduled to take place on Friday 1st July 2022 at 2.00pm.

In a letter seen by Time Fm, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary Catherine Bitarakwete, has asked four of the Union Executive members to be present as they will be discussing the ongoing industrial action by the Teachers which started on the 15th of June 2022.

She adds that the meeting will focus on issues raised for industrial action.
Yesterday the government denied issuing last week’s ultimatum to striking Arts teachers directing them to return to class or face dismissal.

The government instead explained that this was a mere proposal and not a directive.

In a June 22 letter, the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Public Service, Ms Catherine Bitarakwate, ordered the striking teachers back to class by Friday, June 24, or risk being sacked for absconding from duty and engaging in an “illegal” industrial action.

On June 15, some teachers countrywide laid down their tools protesting what they termed discriminatory salary enhancements.

The strike followed the government’s proposal to increase science teachers’ salaries by over 300% while those of arts and primary teachers were not considered.