3rd July, 2025 | Teachers’ House, Kampala
UNATU Central Region hosted a spirited Post-Primary Workshop at Teachers’ House in Kampala on July 3, 2025, bringing together educators from secondary, TVET (formerly BTVET), and tertiary institutions. The gathering created a powerful space for honest dialogue, reflection, and recommitment to the union’s mission of safeguarding the rights and welfare of all teachers.
In his opening remarks, the Central Regional Chairperson, Mr. Bwambale William, warmly welcomed participants and extended both condolences and congratulations to those who had recently experienced loss or celebration. He reaffirmed the region’s unwavering support to its members and commended the teachers’ dedication to the new curriculum and their learners. While applauding their unity, he also raised a concern that resonated deeply: the rising cases of mental health issues among teachers, calling for open engagement and collective problem-solving.
Representing the National Executive Council, Ms. Nabirye Teddy, UNATU’s National Representative for Women Affairs, delivered a heartfelt message. She praised the participants for their commitment to education despite numerous challenges and brought greetings from the National Chairperson. She drew from her personal journey into unionism, inspired by the mentorship of former General Secretary Teopista Birungi. She encouraged the teachers to believe in themselves, to stand united, and to trust their capacity to influence positive change within the profession.
Delivering the keynote address, UNATU General Secretary Baguma Filbert Bates took the educators on a powerful journey through the history and purpose of the union. He also clearly explained how UNATU is not just for primary teachers, as its leadership was originally rooted in the post-primary subsector. Recalling his early involvement when he had just four years in service, he emphasized that UNATU was born out of the need to fight for teacher welfare. He reflected on the gains made and the current struggles, particularly the confusion caused by splinter unions whose agendas are unclear. Quoting the Constitution of Uganda, he reminded members that their rights to representation and unionization are inherent and non-negotiable.
Baguma clarified that UNATU does not directly set or enhance salaries but remains the firm voice advocating for salary improvements from the government. He urged teachers to recognize themselves as the very definition of UNATU—subscribing members with the power to shape the union’s direction. Addressing the worrying trend of mental health issues, he highlighted how stress from both professional and personal spheres is affecting teachers, particularly male educators, and stressed the need for psycho-social support. He ended with a powerful message: teachers must be vigilant, united, and focused on the bigger picture if they are to influence lasting change.
During the plenary, participants didn’t hold back. They raised concerns about communication gaps, the aggressive push by splinter unions, and the lack of sensitization at school level. Several teachers called for renewed school visits by UNATU leadership to get closer to the membership and clarify misinformation. The power of UNATU-led industrial action was echoed as teachers expressed readiness for more assertive engagement if necessary. There were moving testimonies of union impact, praise for proactive chairpersons, and calls for errant members to be re-engaged and rehabilitated into the UNATU fold.
Responding to these concerns, the General Secretary emphasized the importance of getting accurate information from UNATU’s official website. He reiterated that the union’s roots lie in post-primary education and urged members to avoid blame games and focus on facts. He called for cascading of information from union leaders down to school-level membership and encouraged teachers to engage more with the union’s website and digital systems.
As part of UNATU’s digital transformation agenda, the GS announced an upcoming ICT training program tailored for union leaders and eventually the broader membership. This initiative will equip teachers with essential digital skills and enhance their professional growth. Additionally, the union is working on a laptop scheme, identifying a trusted service provider to supply high-quality laptops for educators at a subsidized cost. This effort is designed to boost teachers’ digital readiness and enable them to confidently engage with evolving education technologies.
He also encouraged teachers to study the provisions of the National Teacher Policy, which UNATU fully supports for its potential to professionalize teaching, clarify recruitment and promotion pathways, and promote equity within the sector. Understanding the policy, he noted, is key to unlocking opportunities and defending teacher rights from an informed standpoint.
He addressed questions on retirement policies, harsh transfers, and union support for members with promotion issues. He made it clear that UNATU is actively engaging with national institutions such as the Equal Opportunities Commission to address systemic salary disparities, and that upcoming meetings with government officials are expected to tackle these concerns head-on.
As the workshop came to a close, the General Secretary called on educators to mobilize themselves and their colleagues, to stay resilient, and to be ready for whatever comes next. He urged them to support each other, push back against misinformation, and continue standing firm in solidarity with the union. He reminded members that the strength of the union lies in its collective voice—and that voice must now be louder, clearer, and more unified than ever. He also affirmed that UNATU will keep spreading the message to the teachers across the nation.
The workshop ended on a high note, with post-primary educators walking away energized, informed, and deeply appreciative of the union’s efforts to listen, act, and lead.
We are really happy for the Union’s commitment to the government, however,our friends in the post primary sector are now energized,l request the leaders to also look at the lower cadres as we are the very first stake in education, don’t relax,we too sad and deliberate