Arts teachers in Sheema District have joined a nationwide strike protesting salary disparities, intensifying a growing crisis in Uganda’s education sector. The strike, organized under the Uganda Professional Humanities Teachers Union (UPHTU) Sheema chapter, began with teachers marching through Sheema Municipality on June 13, 2025, holding placards demanding recognition and fair pay alongside their science counterparts.
The core grievance driving the strike is the persistent salary inequality between arts and science teachers. Arts educators argue that despite having similar workloads and responsibilities, their salaries have remained stagnant while science teachers received substantial pay raises in 2022. For example, science teachers now earn upwards of Shs4 million, whereas arts teachers continue to earn significantly less, with some reporting salaries as low as Shs600,000. This disparity has caused financial hardship among arts teachers, many of whom struggle to meet living costs, pay school fees for their children, and service loans amid rising commodity prices such as meat and fuel.
Leaders of the UPHTU Sheema chapter, including Chairperson Enock Aheebwa and Vice Chairperson Alice Abenaitwe, have emphasized that the strike is not motivated by selfishness but by a demand for dignity and equitable treatment. They have vowed not to return to classrooms until the government addresses their concerns, highlighting that the strike also represents solidarity with other government employees facing wage injustices, such as secretaries, cooks, and librarians. The teachers have appealed to parents and religious leaders for support, stressing that their action stems from desperation rather than defiance.
The strike has severely disrupted learning in Sheema and other districts. Schools report that arts classes have been abandoned, with science teachers overloaded trying to cover for absent colleagues. Headteachers from various schools, including Muntuyera High School in Ntungamo and Rukore High School in Kabale, have confirmed that all arts teachers have ceased teaching, negatively impacting syllabus coverage and student performance. In Tororo District, similar scenes have unfolded, with arts lessons absent for consecutive days, leaving students to revise on their own.
The strike is part of a broader movement across Uganda, with arts teachers in regions like Lango also threatening or engaging in industrial action over salary disparities. The Lango branch of UPHTU had planned a strike starting June 6, 2025, citing unfulfilled government promises and continued discrimination. Despite warnings from the Ministry of Education about potential dismissals, arts teachers remain steadfast in their demands for salary harmonization and better working conditions.
The government has been urged to listen to the teachers’ grievances and take swift action to prevent further disruption to the education system. Education stakeholders warn that prolonged industrial action threatens the academic calendar and the future of students, especially those pursuing arts subjects. Teachers argue that arts education is crucial for nurturing critical thinking, discipline, and responsible citizenship, complementing science education in forming well-rounded learners.
In conclusion, the strike by arts teachers in Sheema District highlights a critical issue of salary inequality within Uganda’s education sector. The teachers’ call for fair pay is not only about financial justice but also about valuing the essential role arts educators play in society. Without government intervention to address these disparities, the strike—and its detrimental impact on students—may continue, underscoring the urgent need for equitable treatment of all teachers across disciplines.