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Magyezi warns government workers against strikes amid teacher absenteeism

27 September 2025, 10:39 am

Hon. Raphael Magyezi, Minister of Local Government.

By Ronald Ssemagonja

The Minister of Local Government, Raphael Magyezi, has urged Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) and Town and Municipal Clerks to ensure that government workers refrain from participating in strikes while their unions continue negotiations with the Ministry of Public Service.

Addressing the First Quarterly Meeting at Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala yesterday, Magyezi called on leaders to remind workers of their responsibility to keep government programmes running despite the challenges they face.

“I appreciate all of you leaders for working with the Ministry in implementing government projects such as the Local Economic Growth Support (LEGS) project, the National Oilseed Project (NoSP), and others,” he said.

The minister also commended the Chief Administrative Officer of Kayunga District for tackling staff absenteeism, urging other CAOs across the country to follow his example.

His remarks come as many teachers in government schools have downed their tools since the start of the third term on 15 September 2025. The strike followed several meetings between the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) and government, which ended without an agreement.

UNATU General Secretary Filbert Baguma insists that teachers will not return to class until their demands are met, arguing that “investing in teachers means investing in the future of the nation, and fair compensation allows educators to fully focus on shaping young minds.”

Filbert Baguma, General Secretary of UNATU.

Meanwhile, outside the meeting, Nsooba Slaughterhouse chairman Sekanyo Sulaiman appealed to private school owners to be lenient with parents during this period. Speaking to journalists in Kawempe Division, Kampala, he urged schools to ensure learners continue to have access to education while parents work to raise school fees.

Sekanyo Sulaiman, Chairman of Nsooba Slaughterhouse.

“We urge school owners to remain lenient while parents find ways to pay school fees. We also continue to appeal to parents to fulfil their responsibilities,” Sulaiman said.