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If numbers don’t lie, then the National Unity Platform (NUP) party has every reason to delight in the ones they have mustered before Uganda go to the polls in under three months.

In the sub-regions of Tooro and Rwenzori, the party has made significant progress even before a single ballot is cast. This as statistics show that the leading Opposition party will field 26 party flag-bearers at the parliamentary level out of 31 parliamentary positions. In every district in the sub-regions, compared to the 2021 General Election, NUP has a flag-bearer, with many political analysts attributing this to the costly National Resistance Movement (NRM) party primaries.

Many politicians who could not afford to take part in the NRM primaries ended up, per the analysts, switching allegiances to NUP. Out of the 31 positions in the sub-regions in question, 20 are in Tooro’s districts. They include directly elected women representatives from seven districts, including Fort Portal City. Our analysis shows that, this time, NUP has fielded 16 flag-bearers. This is up from just five flag-bearers the last time Uganda went to the polls in 2021.

We have also established that the leading Opposition party has, this time round, only failed to have flag-bearers in four constituencies across the sub-region of Tooro. Elsewhere, in Rwenzori, in 2021, NUP had seven candidates fly its flag in the sub-region. This meant that the party did not have candidates in all 11 positions that were up for grabs.

Crunching the numbers

All 12 candidates that NUP fielded across both sub-regions in the 2021 General Election did not make it to Parliament. They either lost to NRM or Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party candidates. NRM was particularly dominant in Tooro, where it swept all the positions, something that it has consistently done. This is unlike Rwenzori, specifically Kasese, which tends to cast its lot with the FDC party. NUP will, however, take heart in the fact that it is better represented numerically before a ballot is cast this time round. In 2021, districts like Bunyangabu, Kamwenge, and Kitagwenda had no NUP candidate. Not this time.

In Fort Portal, which has two constituencies, NUP has presented candidates for the District Woman Representative (DWR) seat and the Central Division seat. Only the North Division remains vacant from a NUP perspective. In Kitagwenda District, the party has a candidate for the County MP seat, but did not field one for the DWR seat. In Kyenjojo District, out of four positions, NUP has managed to field candidates in three constituencies.

It has, however, missed out on the DWR slot. Similarly, in Kyegegwa District, the party filled three of the four positions, with only Kyaka South left without an aspirant candidate. NUP has fielded candidates in all the other districts-two in Bunyangabu, two in Kabarole, and three in Kamwenge.

Reading between the lines

Mr Joshua Asiimwe, a political analyst, has attributed the growing number of NUP flag-bearers in Tooro to the high cost of contesting in the NRM party primaries. He explained that the financial requirements for aspirants in the NRM party make it difficult for many young people and ordinary Ugandans to participate. NUP, he added, makes the process more affordable and accessible. ‘In NRM, one needs at least Shs50m to stand a chance in the primaries. This cost automatically locks out many youth and average citizens who cannot raise such amounts,’ the analyst told Sunday Monitor.

He added that NUP’s system of vetting, rather than holding expensive primaries, has made it easier for aspirants to secure the party flag without incurring heavy financial burdens. ‘NUP uses vetting instead of costly primaries, meaning aspirants don’t have to spend millions just to get the party flag. This is why the party is attracting more flag bearers this time compared to 2021,’ he noted.

Mr Asiimwe further predicted that if NUP maintains this model, the number of people seeking the party flag will continue to rise in future electoral cycles. ‘As long as NUP remains inclusive and cost-free in its vetting process, more Ugandans, especially the youth, will be drawn to the party. This trend will likely see NUP fielding even more candidates in the years ahead,’ he concluded.

Mr James Kugonza, an NRM supporter in Fort Portal, however, defended the ruling party’s primary system, arguing that while many people said they are expensive, it ensures fairness and competitiveness.

‘Yes, NRM primaries are costly, but that cost reflects the strength of the party. Aspirants must invest because they are competing in a party with a strong national base. It also helps us sieve out unserious candidates who may not manage campaigns at a national level,’ he said. He added that despite NUP’s growing numbers in fielding party flags, winning elections would be another challenge altogether.

‘Fielding candidates is one thing, but winning is another. NRM remains strong in Tooro and Rwenzori, and the structures we have on the ground cannot be matched by NUP. That’s why even in 2021, when they fielded candidates, none of them made it to Parliament,’ he said.

NUP on cloud nine

Mr Innocent Natukunda Bitariho, the NUP coordinator for the Tooro Sub-region, said the growth in flag-bearers is attributed to the growing demand for change among the people.

‘This time people want change because we have many candidates, despite the intimidation from NRM and security agencies,’ Mr Natukunda said.

He also revealed that for the first time, NUP has an unopposed candidate in the forthcoming general elections, a development that provides proof that the people are ready for change.

‘In Batalika Sub-county, in Kyenjojo District, our male youth councillor is unopposed. Unfortunately, security is intimidating him to step down, which we shall not accept. But this shows the people’s readiness for change. We expect to win more seats than in 2021. People used to dismiss NUP as a Buganda party, but now we are fielding candidates across the country,’ he told Sunday Monitor.

Mr Natukunda, who was given the party flag for Mwenge North, Kyenjojo District, said for years, he has been mobilising and working hard to ensure representation across the sub-region with party flag-bearers.

‘I have been among those working tirelessly to ensure most districts in Tooro get NUP flag bearers. Getting the party flag was not a mistake. I expect victory this time because people have realised the need for change, and they are rejecting the propaganda spread by NRM,’ he disclosed. In the Rwenzori Sub-region, which comprises the districts of Kasese, Bundibugyo, and Ntoroko, NUP has also expanded its presence.

Out of 11 constituencies, the party has fielded 10 flag-bearers, missing only one seat; Ntoroko County in Ntoroko District. Mr Brian Basisa, the NUP chairman for Kasese District, said the increase in demand for the party flag ahead of the 2026 General Election is largely driven by the youth, who form the majority and are seeking change. He further explained that, unlike other parties, NUP offers them an opportunity to contest for leadership positions.

‘In the NRM party, it is very difficult to get the party flag because for years, they have maintained the same individuals. Youth are denied opportunities to contest, so they have crossed to NUP because they want change,’ Mr Basisa said.

Pandemic barriers

He noted that NUP struggled to field many candidates in 2021 due to the fact that it was new as a political party and the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. ‘In 2021, it was Covid-19. Most meetings were held virtually, and many of our members did not know each other. Security [agencies] also disrupted several of our meetings in Kasese, which made it difficult to get candidates,’ he explained.

Mr Basisa added that during the 2021 electoral cycle, many aspiring candidates were intimidated or even coaxed into withdrawing before nominations. This time the party has prepared its flag bearers through training, leaving Mr Basisa confident that none will pull out after nomination.

In Kasese District, during the 2021 General Election, NUP fielded candidates in five out of six parliamentary seats, only missing Busongora North. This time, all six positions have been filled with flag-bearers. Compared to 2021, when most of the candidates were new to the party, this time only one returning aspirant has been handed the flag again-Ms Fatuma Katembo Kamama, for Kasese District Woman MP. The rest are new faces awaiting nomination. In Busongora South, Mr Jackson Mbaju, who contested as an Independent in 2021 and later ran on the NUP ticket in the 2022 by-election, has once again been endorsed by the party to contest.

The other new flag bearers include Mr Bwambale Tinkasimire for Bukonzo East; Mr Shahidu Tuhakaba Muhindo for Bukonzo West; Mr Jonan Bwambake for Busongora North; and Mr Robert Muthoma for Kasese Municipality. In the 2021 polls, NUP did not win any parliamentary seat in Kasese District. However, with the broader slate of candidates in 2026, the party is optimistic about securing victories. Elsewhere, in the Rwenzori Sub-region, Bundibugyo District, which fielded only two candidates in 2021, has now filled all three parliamentary positions.

In Ntoroko District, where the party previously had no representation, NUP has managed to field one aspirant candidate. This has-much like its principal, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, alias Bobi Wine-left the party with a spring in its step.

HARARE. Uganda finished their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier on a commanding note, thumping Nigeria’s Yellow Greens by 66 runs in Harare on Saturday evening.

Yet the emphatic win was little more than a consolation, as the Cricket Cranes had bowed out of contention for the World Cup after early stumbles against Zimbabwe and Tanzania.

At Takashinga Cricket Club, captain Riazat Ali Shah showcased his class, hammering 66 off 30 balls at a breathtaking strike rate of 220. He combined with new boys Gaurav Tomar (33 off 25) and Sumeet Verma (33 off 18) to propel Uganda to a daunting 196/7.

Final squeeze

Nigeria never looked like threatening the target, losing wickets at regular intervals. Left-arm spinner Henry Ssenyondo was unplayable with 3/12, while fellow leftie Alpesh Ramjani (2/17) and Juma Miyaji (1/24) kept the squeeze. Only captain Sylvester Okpe (29 off 27) stood tall as Nigeria staggered to 130/7.

‘This tournament is a wake-up call,’ said Riazat, who was also named Player of the Match. ‘We have the talent to beat anyone, but we must learn to execute our roles properly and finish the big moments.’

Coach Abhay Sharma admitted Uganda’s fate was sealed by their stuttering start. ‘We collapsed under pressure against Tanzania – seven wickets for 15 runs – and that cost us a semi-final spot. We must learn from that.’

Hosts Zimbabwe lifted the trophy with a seven-wicket win over Namibia, Kenya secured third place after overcoming Tanzania, and Malawi finished seventh after thrashing Botswana.

ICC T20 WORLD CUP AFRICA QUALIFIER

Result – Fifth Place Playoff Final

Uganda 196/7 | Nigeria 130/7

Uganda won by 66 runs

HOW THEY FINISHED

1. Zimbabwe

2. Namibia

3. Kenya

4. ?Tanzania

5. ?Uganda

6. ?Nigeria

7. ?Malawi

8. ?Botswana

*Top Two Qualified For The World Cup

Results Summary – Uganda at ICC Africa Qualifier 2025:

· Lost to Zimbabwe by 5 wickets

· Lost to Tanzania by 9 runs

· Beat Botswana by 8 wickets

· Beat Malawi by 117 runs

· Beat Nigeria by 66 runs

Talking Point:

FUTURE FIX

Missed Moments. The collapse against Tanzania and the inability to finish against Zimbabwe will haunt the Cranes for years. Uganda must build depth, nurture temperament, and master game management to avoid such costly lapses in future campaigns.

The Nyege Nyege Festival is back at Uganda’s sacred Kalagala Falls, celebrating its 10th anniversary with a 24-hour, non-stop showcase of music, culture, and creativity. This landmark edition will feature over 300 artists, collectives, and cultural trailblazers from across Africa, the diaspora, and beyond.

This year’s event will be held from November 20 to 24. According to the new list, headliners will include Kampire, DJ Travella, DJ Diaki, Arsenal Mikebe, Sisso, Maiko, and Catu Diosis, with over 15 collectives lighting up the stages-among them Group Therapy and Ile Ijo (Nigeria), Fabrika (Ethiopia), Singeli Movement (Tanzania), and Transit (Ghana). International crews such as Moonshine (Canada) and Maraboutage (France) will also feature.

Adding global star power, Skrillex and Flowdan are set to perform, sharing the stage with traditional Ugandan acts that honour heritage and culture.

The festival will showcase pioneers and innovators of genres such as mapanta, singeli, balani show, acholitronix, kadodi, afrohouse, 3step, bacardi house, and more-cementing Nyege Nyege’s reputation as one of the most diverse and groundbreaking music festivals in the world.

Renowned for its boundary-pushing lineups, Nyege Nyege 2025 will host artists across six immersive stages that bridge ancestral rhythms, underground innovation, and future-facing sounds. Each stage will be curated with cosmic intention.

Under the theme Ekigunda Ky’Omuliro – The Gathering of the Flame, festival-goers will be invited into an Afrofuturistic soundscape celebrating the past, present, and future of contemporary African music.

Marking its 10th anniversary, Nyege Nyege 2025 moves to a breathtaking new home overlooking Kalagala Falls, on the banks of the River Nile-just a two-hour drive from Uganda’s capital, Kampala.

The venue, known as East Africa’s adventure capital, welcomes visitors from around the world to experience its natural beauty and thrilling outdoor activities.

To commemorate its 10th anniversary, Nyege Nyege will also inaugurate the first edition of the African Electronic Music Conference (AEMC) in collaboration with the French Development Agency. A major fashion pavilion-Kwetu Kwanza-will celebrate sustainable fashion and designers breaking new ground.

According to the organisers, Nyege Nyege remains a space where music, culture, and community converge. This edition celebrates the journey and the limitless future ahead, with artists, collectives, and audiences shaping the next chapter of this iconic gathering.

Trace+, the streaming platform for Afro-Urban culture, has partnered with Nyege Nyege 2025 in a media collaboration brokered by Flycorp-an African project, talent, and event management company. The partnership is expected to spotlight African creativity on a global stage and deliver an unprecedented digital festival experience from Uganda.

As the official streaming partner, Trace+ will bring the spirit of Nyege Nyege to global audiences with exclusive performances, artist interviews, behind-the-scenes coverage, and immersive content across its app, website, and social platforms.

As Uganda joined the rest of the world to commemorate World Teachers’ Day, teachers’ unions in the country used the occasion to remind the government to prioritise improving teachers’ welfare and transforming the education system.

Mr Jackson Erima, Secretary General of the Uganda Liberal Teachers’ Union (ULITU), noted that low pay continues to frustrate teachers, forcing some to lay down their tools and disadvantage innocent children.

“Our biggest problem is the payment of our teachers, and it is worse among primary school teachers,” Mr. Erima said. “A primary school teacher earns only Shs 450,000 monthly, and this should be increased to at least Shs 1 million.”

He added that the ongoing teachers’ strike led by the Uganda National Teachers Union (UNATU) has paralyzed teaching and learning in most upcountry schools, with many students struggling to prepare for national and transitional examinations.

Mr. Aron Mugaiga, Secretary General of the Uganda Professional Science Teachers’ Union (UPSTU), concurred with Mr. Erima, calling on the government to commit to continuously improve the welfare of all teachers.

“As we commemorate Teachers’ Day, we call for continued commitment by the government to improve teachers’ working conditions through enhancing wages and building teachers’ houses near schools,” Mr. Mugaiga said.

The Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) has vowed to continue its strike until its demands are met.

Mr Filbert Baguma, the General Secretary of UNATU, said that no amount of intimidation will divert them from their cause.

“Our teachers are at home, and being at home, they are simply communicating to the government and other stakeholders that they are disappointed by the way they have been treated,” Mr. Baguma said.

The disparity in pay between arts and science teachers has also been highlighted, with arts teachers earning significantly less than their science counterparts.

The commemoration of World Teachers’ Day serves as a reminder of the need for the government to prioritise the welfare of teachers and the education system.

HARARE. When coach Abhay Sharma walked out to meet the Cricket Cranes by the poolside of Crest Lodge – the team hotel in Harare on Saturday night, the mood was somber.

Uganda had just finished fifth at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier, missing out on one of two coveted continental tickets to the 2026 World Cup.

For a team that arrived as pre-tournament favourites, the loss – primarily – to Tanzania in the group stage was heartbreaking.

In the aftermath of it all, then came Sharma’s decision. After seven minutes of a heartfelt address, the 54-year-old Indian tactician told his players he was stepping down as Head Coach of the Cricket Cranes. It was the end of an 18-month reign filled with milestones, heartbreaks, triumphs, and wit.

Memories linger on

Sharma spoke slowly, occasionally choking on emotion. He recalled left-armer Henry Ssenyondo’s spell against Italy, Dinesh Nakrani’s six-hitting in Hong Kong, Juma Miyaji’s six-wicket haul against Tanzania in Kowloon, Cosmas Kyewuta’s gun-fielding and Frank Nsubuga’s miserly World Cup overs among others events.

‘I’ve been hard on you these last 18 months, but it was never personal. It was always to push you higher,’ he said. Before leaving, he handed every player a framed photo of their family. ‘These are the people who care about you most. Play for them.’

Team Manager Charles Waiswa delivered a vote of thanks on behalf of the players, describing Sharma as ‘a mentor who taught us a lot and gave us belief.’

Record and legacy

Sharma’s Uganda delivered unforgettable highs: he was the main man in the dugout at the Pear of Africa’s first-ever World Cup appearance, two unbeaten tours (South Africa 2024, POA T20I Series 2025), and a remarkable 17-match unbeaten T20 run stretching from July 2024 to August 2025 – a global feat of sorts.

Overall, he departs with a 70.37% win rate: 38 wins, 16 losses, and three abandoned matches. Uganda also sits top of the ICC Challenge League B standings with 18 points, unbeaten, and in prime position to push for One Day International (ODI) status in 2026.

Why he stepped down

Sharma admitted that his availability had been a recurring challenge. ‘I couldn’t be in Uganda for as long as the team required. Coaching is not just about match days, it’s about working with young players daily, building structures, and sharpening skills. This team needs someone who can dedicate more time on the ground.’

He urged UCA to continue investing in infrastructure and wider player development: ‘Uganda has the talent. What it needs now are better facilities, deeper player pools, and sustained pathways.’

Yet he insisted he would always remain available in an advisory capacity: ‘My phone is always on. Call me anytime, wherever I am. Uganda is my second home.’

Sharma, aged 56, leaves Uganda with his name firmly etched in the country’s cricketing history. Not just for wins and losses, but for the belief he gave a nation – that the Cricket Cranes could stand tall on the world stage.

UGANDA COACHES ROTA

For The Last Decade

· Steve Tikolo (2016-2019)

· Laurence Mahatlane (2020-2022)

· Jackson Ogwang (Interim, 2023)

· Abhay Sharma (2024-2025)

SHARMA – SELECTED CHRONOLOGY

April 2024 – Tour of Sri Lanka (0-6, T20s)

June 2024 – ICC Men’s T20 World Cup (1 win, 3 losses)

Sept 2024 – PNG ODI Series (2-2)

Oct 2024 – Tour of South Africa (6-0 sweep)

Nov 2024 – Challenge League B Uganda leg (4 wins, 1 abandoned)

Dec 2024 – ILT20 Continent Cup – Africa (9-0 sweep)

Feb 2025 – Challenge League B Hong Kong leg (4 wins, 1 abandoned)

Aug 2025 – POA Series (6-0 sweep)

Sept-Oct 2025 – Africa Qualifier (3 wins, 2 losses)

CV Snapshot – Abhay Sharma

· Former First-Class cricketer and wicketkeeper-batsman

· Fielding Coach, India A and U-19s; India Women

· Head Coach, Delhi Ranji Trophy Team (2022)

· Head Coach, Rest of India (Irani Trophy winners 2017/18)

· Head Coach, India B (Deodar Trophy and Challenger Trophy winners 2019)

· Head Coach, Cricket Cranes (POA, ILT20, Challenge League B winners – 2024/25)

In his Sunday Monitor column of September 28, Mr Gawaya Tegulle wrote a piece titled, ‘2026 polls: Gen Mugisha Muntu – the stone that builders rejected’, where he made very patronising observations about Ugandans, especially the many millions who have continuously voted for President Museveni and the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party.

Using a barrage of overbearing English words, Bwana Gawaya thinks Ugandans are dimwits and have no brains to choose what is good for themselves.

In his view, Ugandans should accept whatever form of ‘indignation’ that comes their way because they repeatedly make the wrong decision of choosing President Museveni as their leader. How wrong he can get. Simple facts should inform Bwana Tegulle to appreciate why the majority of Ugandans are forever grateful to Yoweri Museveni and hence the continued trust.

President Museveni inherited a completely failed state in 1986. Imagine taking over a country that had seven presidents in a period of just 24 years. Indeed, we weren’t changing leadership through a democratic process, but changes were occasioned through military coups and brutal takeovers.

Since 2006, when the last group of war mongers of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) were completely defeated and fled to the Central African Republic, Uganda has had total peace from all corners of its territory. This peace and stability witnessed for the first time in very many years is what has led to massive Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) in Uganda, hence creating the much-needed jobs, skills, innovations, plus growing the size of our economy.

Then one wonders why Ugandans are still voting Museveni.? Uganda’s economy has strengthened its resilience to domestic and external shocks and has been growing at an estimated six percent over the last 30 years.

In nominal terms, the size of the economy is now $66.3b compared to $1.5b in 1986. This growth is broad-based, including in agriculture, industry and services like ICT.

Uganda is on course to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning through universal education from primary to secondary levels. In this way, we have been able to restore gender parity with the enrolment of females and males almost balanced. Science and Technology remain high on the agenda of the country.

The government has increased funding to the education sector, and more classrooms have been constructed, and teachers deployed. Energy investments are transforming Uganda’s economy by promoting new industries, creating jobs, enhancing energy access, and driving economic diversification through renewable energy and oil production.

Uganda’s total electricity generation is 2,052MW following the completion of the 600-MW Karuma Hydropower Plant, compared to only 750MW that were available in 1986. The electricity transmission capacity has now increased to 4,218km of high voltage. The investment in infrastructure to support regional and international trade includes upgrading Entebbe airport and designating other airports for international traffic.

The focus on creating a seamless, multi-modal transport system aligned with national and regional development goals is unimaginable. The national paved road network has grown to about 6,850 from 1,000 by 1986.

Uganda’s tenfold growth strategy government is stepping up efforts to accelerate diversification of the economy, add value to raw materials to boost exports and import substitution to continue reducing our import bill, and also build more basic industries to produce items that Ugandans use daily, such as sugar, soap, cooking oil, medicines, construction materials, etc. Uganda continues to register improvements in the health sector.

Access to and utilisation of health services have significantly improved over the years, with the population living within a 5km radius of a health facility increasing to 86 percent. Therefore, as we prepare to go into the general election come January 2026, President Museveni’s progressive leadership will be without a doubt rewarded abundantly with another resounding victory.

It is often said that no nation can be great or rise above the quality of its educational system, and no educational system can rise above the quality of its teachers. This truth underscores the urgent need to see teacher professional development not as a luxury but as the foundation of educational transformation.

Professional development is not a one-time event; it is a lifelong journey that begins with initial teacher preparation and continues until retirement. Teachers remain the most important change agents in education, and how we nurture their growth directly shapes how students learn.

As we celebrate World Teachers’ Day 2025, we reflect on the lessons learned from our journey in rethinking professional development. Early on, we noticed a troubling trend: professional development was often treated as an isolated event rather than a continuous process.

More than half of the teachers we interviewed admitted that continuous professional development (CPD) had little or no impact on their classroom practices. They described one-off workshops where they listened to trainers, collected handouts, and then returned to classrooms where nothing fundamentally changed.

Such models checked accountability boxes for trainers but rarely transformed teaching or improved student learning.

This realisation challenged us to reimagine professional development-its purpose, its design, and its sustainability. From this journey, three critical lessons have emerged: Effective professional learning is not about transferring information; it is about fostering growth. Teachers, like their students, need time and space to practice, reflect, collaborate, and apply new skills in real classrooms.

Professional development that is ongoing, context-specific, and supported by coaching or peer collaboration produces genuine improvement. Equally important is focus. The guiding question should always be: How will teacher development improve student learning? When there is a clear link between teacher growth and learner success, professional development becomes relevant and meaningful.

Programmes such as those designed by Enabel are showing promise in this direction: equipping teachers to design inclusive lessons, adopt learner-centred methodologies, use assessment to guide instruction, and integrate technology purposefully.

The goal is not simply to inform teachers but to transform them so that teaching becomes more engaging, inclusive, and impactful. Professional development must respect teachers as professionals.

It cannot be imposed top-down; it must grow from teachers’ voices, experiences, and needs. Teachers respond best when they are treated as co-creators-identifying challenges, shaping solutions, and sharing expertise.

Programs that honour teacher participation foster ownership, trust, and long-term commitment. We must also recognise professional development as an investment, not an expense. Done well, it changes how teachers teach, how students learn, and how schools succeed.

Investing in teachers is, ultimately, investing in the future of the nation. True professional development is not a requirement to be checked off-it is a pathway to lasting change. When it is continuous, collaborative, and connected to real classroom practice, it empowers teachers to refine their craft, build confidence, and keep improving.

Sustained professional development creates a cycle of continuous improvement where teaching evolves and learning flourishes.

At its best, professional development becomes self-sustaining because it fuels teachers’ intrinsic motivation. It shifts professional growth from something done to teachers into something done by and with them.

This is where transformation truly takes root. On this World Teachers’ Day, we call on all stakeholders in education to recognise that professional development is not an add-on to education; it is its cornerstone. If we want teaching to change and learning to improve, we must move beyond one-off workshops and embrace sustained, collaborative, and purpose-driven professional learning.

Teachers deserve to be empowered as learners themselves, curious, capable, and central to educational change.

Teachers need time dedicated to professional development. They need access to tools and technology to practice and innovate. Their competences must be recognised and licensed.

When teachers grow, students succeed. And when students succeed, the nation rises. Let us celebrate and invest in our teachers, not just today, but every day, because they hold the key to a brighter future for us all.

Today, Uganda joins the rest of the world in celebrating teachers. Held annually on October 5, World Teachers’ Day, according to Unesco, ‘commemorates the anniversary of the adoption of the 1966 International Labour Organisation/Unesco recommendation concerning the status of teachers, which sets benchmarks regarding the rights and responsibilities of teachers, and standards for their initial preparation and further education, recruitment, employment, and teaching and learning conditions’.

Unfortunately, the day will be marked in Uganda when teachers have withdrawn their labour over salary disparities.

Teachers, mostly in secondary schools, are in the third week of their strike, which started on September 15. In July 2022, the government implemented a substantial pay rise for science teachers, increasing salaries by up to 300 percent.

Under the adjustment, graduate science teachers’ pay rose from Shs1.1m to Shs4m, and Grade V science teachers’ pay from Shs796,000 to Shs2.5 million. Currently, a graduate arts teacher earns a gross salary of Shs1,078,162 and takes home Shs841,931, while their science counterpart earns Shs4m gross and Shs2,858,000 net.

The minister of Public Service, Mr Muruli Mukasa, this week issued a stern warning to the striking teachers, declaring the industrial action illegal and directing teachers to resume work within one week. But labour unions have joined the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (Unatu) to reject the government’s seven-day ultimatum to end their strike, insisting that teachers will not return to classrooms until their demand for salary enhancement is addressed. But as we celebrate World Teachers’ Day, let us take time and reflect on all the challenges facing our teachers beyond their salaries. For long, teachers, especially in rural areas, have complained about poor working conditions.

Many of these schools are understaffed, have limited classrooms and accommodation, as well as limited textbooks and science apparatus.

Teachers also face limited professional development opportunities. We should stop treating the training of teachers as a one-time event, but rather a continuous process that must follow them through their careers if we want to transform our education system.

All these challenges have led to the demoralisation of teachers who play a key role in driving learning and innovation in schools and societies. It is our appeal, therefore, that all stakeholders, both from the government and private sectors, come together to tackle the challenges that teachers are facing today.

It is through addressing some of these bottlenecks and coming up with new policies that we shall transform our education sector to meet the demands of the 21st Century.