Lira City, 25th September 2024 – The Northern Region Youth Meeting was held at the Pacific Grand Hotel, drawing together 123 youth representatives from various districts in the Lango sub-region. Organized by the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU), the meeting aimed to empower young teachers, deepen their understanding of union affairs, and discuss their welfare. Key speakers at the event included the General Secretary, the National Representative for Secondary Education, the Regional Vice Chairperson Northern, several branch chairpersons and the Regional Administrative Assistant Lango Sub Region.
Opening Remarks by the Host Chairperson, Lira City
The meeting commenced with the host chairperson welcoming the participants, expressing gratitude for their dedication to professional growth and union involvement. She introduced the participants in their district clusters. She also urged the youth to take full advantage of the discussions ahead and engage meaningfully throughout the session.
Opening Address by Susan Racheal Akidi, Regional Vice Chairperson Northern
Susan Racheal Akidi, the Regional Vice Chairperson, praised the vibrant energy of the youth present and commended their choice to join and engage with UNATU. She thanked the General Secretary for his continued support of young teachers, highlighting the union’s inclusive nature. “I thank the General Secretary for collaborating with the youth and making them an integral part of UNATU,” she said. Akidi encouraged the participants to remain active in union affairs, learn from one another, and embrace leadership opportunities.
Address by Baguma Filbert Bates, General Secretary of UNATU
The General Secretary, Baguma Filbert Bates, acknowledged the exceptional mobilization efforts of the branch chairpersons and The Regional Administrative Assistant. He reiterated that UNATU represents all teachers across gender, subsectors, and designations, reaffirming the union’s commitment to inclusivity. “UNATU is for all teachers—whether primary, secondary, male, female—we stand for all of you,” Baguma emphasized. He encouraged the youth to stay informed about union matters, regularly visit the union’s website, and take the lead in advocating for their peers.
Baguma also clarified that while UNATU consistently advocates for teachers’ welfare, the responsibility for salary enhancements lies with the employer. He urged young teachers to familiarize themselves with Chapter 4 of the Ugandan Constitution, which outlines human rights, discrimination, and labor protections. “Teachers are not children to be beaten. Know your rights, defend yourself, and uphold the dignity of the teaching profession,” he emphasized. Baguma also spoke against discrimination within the profession, asserting UNATU’s firm belief that “All teachers matter.”
He provided an update on the National Teacher Policy, detailing its three core frameworks: the Social Dialogue Framework, the Continuous Development Framework, and the Teacher Incentive Framework. The General Secretary stressed the importance of continuous professional development for teachers and recognized their vital role in shaping the education sector. He concluded with a discussion on the ongoing deliberations surrounding the Teachers’ Bill, which covers licensing and degree requirements for teachers.
Financial Discipline and Retirement
Baguma further addressed the issue of financial discipline, advising teachers to live within their means and avoid loans for non-essential purposes, such as paying bride price. He cautioned teachers to only consider loans when absolutely necessary and to thoroughly read and understand loan agreements before signing them. This was a crucial point as many teachers struggle with managing multiple loans.
On the topic of retirement, he provided a detailed overview of the various retirement options available to teachers. He explained that the mandatory retirement age is 60, though teachers may also retire on medical grounds or in the public interest. Teachers with at least 10 years of service and over 45 years of age, or those with 20 years of service, qualify for both gratuity and pension benefits. He also outlined the special provision allowing female teachers to retire on marriage grounds after five years of service. In the unfortunate case of death, a teacher’s family is entitled to gratuity and monthly pension if the teacher had completed at least 10 or 20 years of service. Additionally, he clarified that abscondment from duty could result in the forfeiture of retirement benefits.
Plenary Session
The plenary session saw vibrant engagement from the youth, who raised numerous questions and concerns. Topics discussed included the Teachers’ Bill and whether age would be a factor in its implementation, clarification on the laptop scheme, and the process of becoming a deputy or head teacher. Participants also inquired about the support available for sick members, UNATU’s benefits for members upon retirement, and salary enhancement for teachers. Further concerns included corporate wear for teachers, the functionality of the Teachers SACCO, early retirement options, and future salary scales for teachers. The youth also requested a dedicated slot for their representation within the union and sought guidance on study leave policies.
Response from the General Secretary
In response, Baguma encouraged the teachers to prioritize upgrading their qualifications and to exercise caution when taking loans by carefully reading the terms and conditions. On the laptop scheme, he informed participants that negotiations were underway to secure tax waivers, which would lower the cost for teachers. He acknowledged the resource constraints in providing support for sick members and outlined the calculations for pension and gratuity. Addressing the youth’s concerns about representation, Baguma reassured them that a youth slot already exists at the national level, though he urged them not to rely solely on this and to step up as leaders in their own right.
Regarding salary enhancement, Baguma confirmed that UNATU would continue to advocate for better wages for teachers and mentioned that scholarship opportunities would be announced in the next batch of advertisements. On corporate wear, he directed teachers to engage their branch chairpersons for further details. He also clarified that teachers resuming work after abscondment or resignation would need to start afresh. Additionally, Baguma reaffirmed UNATU’s commitment to addressing cases involving the humiliation of teachers and encouraged prompt reporting of such incidents. Lastly, he called on the youth to become ambassadors for the union and recruit others to join UNATU.
Closing Remarks by the National Representative for Secondary Education
In his closing remarks, Ogwal Ambrose emphasized that the future of the union lies in the hands of the youth, urging them to guard it with dedication and responsibility. He addressed the challenges within the secondary sector, including divisions and the recognition of science teachers, and called for unity among all teachers under one voice. Ambrose also expressed appreciation for the General Secretary’s unwavering commitment to the union and acknowledged the significant teacher shortage in the country. He urged the youth to recognize their rights as teachers and members of UNATU and to familiarize themselves with the policies governing their profession. Furthermore, he stressed the importance of financial literacy to help teachers avoid falling into the trap of multiple loans.
Vote of Thanks
One of the youth representatives delivered a heartfelt vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to the General Secretary for his insightful message despite the challenges faced. She called for continuous guidance from the union leadership and reminded her fellow youth that the future of UNATU rests in their hands. She encouraged them to take up leadership roles, respect themselves and the teaching profession, and work with the utmost integrity.
Conclusion
The Northern Region Youth Meeting in Lira City united young educators to strengthen their leadership within UNATU. With guidance from union leaders, the youth were encouraged to take charge of their professional growth and the future of the teaching profession, highlighting their vital role in driving progress and positive change.
It was such a wonderful moment to meet the GS for the first time face to face.I would like to pray for him so that the Almighty gives him strength and power to continue guiding the young generation of this country.solidarity power, solidarity pesa and solidarity forever