The Uganda Muslim Teachers Association (UMTA) is advocating for better pay, welfare, and professional development for teachers in Uganda. According to UMTA Executive Director, Ms. Ajiri Namirembe, the wellbeing of teachers is crucial to improving the quality of education in the country. She emphasized that teachers play a fundamental role in shaping the future of nations and deserve greater recognition and respect. The association's call for improved conditions comes as Uganda joins other countries in recognizing the contribution of teachers to education and national development.
Ms. Namirembe noted that teachers are worth celebrating globally because they prepare people for virtually every profession. She added that every professional goes through the hands of a teacher at some point, making teachers an important part of people's lives and national development. The UMTA Executive Director urged schools and education stakeholders to ensure that teachers are treated with dignity, fairly remunerated, and supported in their professional work, regardless of whether they work in private or government-aided institutions.
The association's call for better pay and welfare is specifically directed at the government, with Ms. Namirembe requesting that teachers be given priority when it comes to salary increments. She also emphasized that celebrating teachers should go beyond dedicating a day to them, calling for sustained investment in their careers, welfare, and professional development. This year's World Teachers' Day is being commemorated under the theme "Standing with teachers: 60 years of protecting the profession, advancing its status and shaping our futures".
However, not all educators share the same level of optimism. Mr. Mukalazi Huzairu, director of Nagayi Memorial Education Centre in Rugaaga, Bukanga, Isingiro District, expressed concerns that Teachers' Day means little to educators who continue to struggle with poor pay and difficult working conditions. He cited low and delayed salaries, poor teaching conditions, and harassment among the challenges facing teachers, saying there had been limited efforts to address them.
Mr. Mukalazi emphasized that putting a day in the calendar does not make sense or bring joy to teachers when they are still poorly paid, working in poor conditions, and not treated with the respect they deserve. He suggested that teachers would have more reason to celebrate if the day was accompanied by tangible improvements in their welfare. According to him, it would be a good day if teachers were celebrating good pay, good working conditions, and respect from the nation.
The Uganda Muslim Teachers Association is an umbrella body bringing together Muslim teachers and teachers' associations, with a mission to contribute to improved quality of education in Uganda and support the wider Muslim community. The association's call for better pay and welfare for teachers is a reminder of the critical role that educators play in shaping the future of the country. As the World Teachers' Day is commemorated, stakeholders are urged to prioritize the welfare and professional development of teachers.
Ultimately, the commemoration of World Teachers' Day serves as a reminder of the importance of recognizing and rewarding the hard work and dedication of teachers. Key stakeholders, including the government and education institutions, are expected to take concrete steps to address the challenges facing teachers, including poor pay and working conditions. By doing so, they can help create a more conducive environment for teachers to deliver quality education and shape the future of Uganda.
Key points
- The Uganda Muslim Teachers Association is calling for improved remuneration, welfare, and professional development for teachers.
- Teachers in Uganda face challenges such as poor pay, delayed salaries, and poor working conditions.
- The World Teachers' Day 2026 is being commemorated under the theme "Standing with teachers: 60 years of protecting the profession, advancing its status and shaping our futures".
