UTVTU strike: inside TVET trainers’ quest for reforms

The Uganda Technical and Vocational Trainers’ Union (UTVTU) has officially commenced an industrial action, citing the government’s persistent failure to address their long-standing grievances.

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Currently, there are over 145 government-owned Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions across the country, employing more than 5,000 trainers and staff.

The strike, which began on September 15, 2025, coincides with the official start of Term Three. According to the Union, dialogue with the Ministry of Public Service began in November 2024, but has failed to yield any tangible outcomes. On May 27, 2025, UTVTU issued a 90-day notice to the ministry, warning of the intended industrial action.

Union Secretary General Norbert Agaba said that, before the 90-day deadline expired, the Union leadership held a meeting with minister Mary Mugasa, permanent secretary Catherine Bitarakwate, and other senior officials, where several action points were agreed upon.

“We requested that these commitments be documented in an official letter. We were told the letter would be ready in four days. It arrived after three weeks and to our dismay, it did not reflect the agreements. Instead, it was an attempt to intimidate us and instruct us to call off the strike,” Agaba said.

The Union’s leadership then convened a General Leaders’ Meeting, where it was unanimously agreed that the strike would proceed unless a meaningful agreement was reached with the ministry.

UTVTU is protesting the exclusion of fashion and design trainers from the salary enhancement scheme for science teachers. The ministry of Public Service reportedly reclassified them as non-scientific, despite teaching practical, technical subjects.

“We presented curriculum proof from the ministry of Education, but Public Service remains adamant,” Agaba said.

The Union argues that workshop assistants, who have similar qualifications to laboratory assistants in secondary schools, were left out of salary enhancements. Moreover, many have been left out of the Human Capital Management System (HCM) and have gone a full year without receiving salaries.

“When they go to Public Service, they’re told to go to the Education Service Commission and vice versa. These are professionals serving the nation, yet are suffering due to administrative confusion,” said Agaba.

The Union also questioned the classification of subjects like agriculture, shoemaking, fashion, and veterinary training as “service courses” instead of science subjects. “You can’t call a veterinary doctor a non-scientist. We demand that these courses be reinstated as science disciplines,” Agaba emphasized.

UTVTU is also demanding the provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for trainers who routinely suffer injuries in poorly equipped workshops.

“We get many accidents during training. Yet trainers earn so little, they end up paying for their own treatment and even buying equipment out of pocket.” Despite years of service and academic advancement including PhDs, many instructors remain stuck in the same roles.

“We have lecturers who’ve served for over 20 years and hold PhDs, yet remain lecturers. They deserve promotion to positions like Senior Lecturer, Deputy Principal, or Principal Instructor,” the union stressed.

UTVTU also called on the government to increase funding to TVET institutions, citing the high cost of delivering quality technical education.

“Without adequate investment, we produce substandard graduates who can’t compete in the job market.” They also criticized the low salaries paid to trainers in cooperative colleges and Uganda Colleges of Commerce, comparing them to those of primary school teachers, despite the trainers’ professional qualifications.

The union noted that TVET graduates are often sidelined in admissions for engineering courses in public universities under government sponsorship, in favor of Senior Six leavers.

“These S.6 candidates are more theoretical. TVET graduates are more practical and should be prioritized,” said Agaba.

Agaba emphasized that no trainer will report for duty for Term Three until an official agreement is reached and communicated to the union.

“We’ve made our position clear. Until our issues are addressed, there will be no teaching. We don’t expect any intimidation from principals, RDCs, or CAOs. This is our constitutional right to strike. Our union lawyers are ready to defend any member facing threats.” Agaba said.

The Union called on parents not to send students to TVET institutions until further notice, as the strike is expected to continue indefinitely unless government responds positively.