The ministry of public service has directed teachers and local government workers to return to duty within one week, declaring their ongoing strike illegal and warned that failure to heed to the directive will face disciplinary action for abandoning duty.
Teachers across the country have been on strike for over two weeks, while local government workers joined the industrial action on Monday this week, demanding immediate salary enhancements.
However, the Minister of Public Service, Wilson Muruli Mukasa in a statement issued on Thursday, October 2, 2025, said the strikes undermine ongoing negotiations on salary enhancements and violate procedures under the Public Service Negotiating and Consultative Council.
“A total of 125,276 public officers have benefited from salary adjustments since 2017/2018, with teachers among the prioritized groups. Currently, 77 percent of public officers earn in line with the long-term pay targets, although 66 percent have not seen any adjustment since 2014/2015”, he stated.
Mukasa stressed that President Museveni has committed to a phased salary increment, including a 25 percent enhancement for humanity teachers in the 2026/2027 financial year.
He added that ” The requirements for enhancements across teachers, public universities, and other underpaid officers have already been submitted to the Ministry of Finance for consideration in the new budget”.
“In view of the above, the 90-day notice contained in your letters does not meet the legal requirements. Accordingly, any plans by your unions to proceed with industrial action under the circumstances are illegal and should not be pursued,” Muruli Mukasa warned.
He appealed to union leaders to call off the strikes and directed teachers and local government workers to return to duty within one week. “You are hereby enjoined to call off the industrial action, and for your members…to resume duty immediately and not beyond one week or else you will be regarded as having abandoned duty and resigned accordingly,” the statement read.
The minster has directed Chief Administrative Officers, Town Clerks, District Education Officers, and Resident District/City Commissioners to monitor compliance and report errant officers.
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