Museveni to Increase Select Teachers’ Salaries in New Pay Structure

The government of Uganda, under the leadership of President Yoweri Museveni, has proposed a salary increase structure for arts teachers.

The move comes after years of concern over stagnant wages, particularly among primary school teachers who have not received a meaningful salary increment despite the rising cost of living.

With the new proposal set to take effect on July 1, 2026, the government is targeting arts and humanities teachers in both primary and secondary schools, aiming to improve welfare, address pay disparities, and restore motivation

Pay Structure and Beneficiaries

The proposed salary review will affect thousands of educators across the country, spanning both primary and secondary school levels.

In secondary schools, the plan targets headteachers and principals, their deputies, and classroom teachers.

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According to the structure, about 1,097 headteachers and principals, 1,057 deputies, and 21,975 classroom teachers are to benefit.

At the primary level, the number of beneficiaries is significantly higher due to the size of the workforce.

The proposal covers 8,226 headteachers under the U4 scale, 6,978 deputy headteachers under the U5 scale, 11,293 senior education assistants (U6), and 105,781 education assistants (U7).

Level	Category	Number of Beneficiaries
Secondary	Headteachers & Principals	1,097
Secondary	Deputy Headteachers	1,057
Secondary	Classroom Teachers & Tutors	21,975
Primary	Headteachers (U4)	8,226
Primary	Deputy Headteachers (U5)	6,978
Primary	Senior Education Assistants (U6)	11,293
Primary	Education Assistants (U7)	105,781

Revised Salary Structure for Arts Teachers

Under the new proposal by the Ugandan Government, arts teachers in both primary and secondary schools are set to receive notable pay increases after a decade of no pay rise.

The lowest cadre, Education Assistants (U7), who include classroom teachers at the entry level, will see their salaries increase from UGX 449,000 to UGX 700,000.

Senior Education Assistants (U6), who serve as mid-level classroom instructors and take additional teaching responsibilities, will also receive an upward adjustment from UGX 602,000 to UGX 727,000.

In school leadership, Headteachers (U4) and Deputy Headteachers (U5) will benefit from even larger increments.

Headteachers will now earn UGX 1.5 million, up from UGX 980,000, while Deputy Headteachers will see their pay rise from UGX 773,000 to UGX 1.3 million.

These changes, effective July 1, 2026, aim to improve motivation, address long-standing wage disparities, and strengthen school leadership in the education sector

Position	Current Salary (UGX)	Proposed Salary (UGX)
Education Assistants (U7)	449,000	700,000
Senior Education Assistants (U6)	602,000	727,000
Headteachers (U4)	980,000	1,500,000
Deputy Headteachers (U5)	773,000	1,300,000

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Focus on Welfare and Education Sector Reforms

The salary proposal reflects a broader policy shift toward improving teacher welfare and restoring dignity within the profession.

For years, pay disparities between science and arts teachers have fuelled dissatisfaction and calls for reform.

The Ugandan government aims to address long-standing grievances while promoting a more equitable pay system.

The reforms also come against the backdrop of increased pressure on teachers due to economic challenges, which have seen many either opt for early retirement or seek alternative sources of income.