Zombo P.7 candidates shift to private schools amid teachers’ strike
“We sympathize with our candidates, but we cannot teach without a salary increment,” said one public school teacher.
Zombo: As the nationwide teachers’ strike led by the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) enters its third week, a growing number of Primary Seven (P.7) candidates in Zombo District are being transferred from public to private schools to continue their education uninterrupted.
The industrial action, which began on September 15, 2025, stems from longstanding salary disparities between science and arts teachers. With no resolution in sight, the strike is taking a heavy toll on learners, particularly P.7 candidates who are just weeks away from sitting their final national examinations.
The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has already released the 2025 examination timetable, with UCE exams set to begin on October 13, and PLE briefing scheduled for October 31.
A headteacher from a government-aided school in Paidha Town Council confirmed the shift in strategy:
“We have collaborated with a private school to ensure syllabus coverage for our P.7 candidates. We are approaching this with compassion, despite supporting the strike,” the headteacher said in an interview on Tuesda
A private school teacher, who spoke on condition of anonymity, y.added “We are accommodating P.7 candidates from public schools, as our teaching and learning processes continue uninterrupted. We empathize with these learners and want to help.”
With over 92 government-aided primary schools serving more than 80,000 pupils, Zombo District has been hard hit by the closure of public schools due to the strike. Teachers remain firm in their stance, demanding a salary increment before resuming work.
“We sympathize with our candidates, but we cannot teach without a salary increment,” said one public school teacher.
Some private schools in the district are reporting increased enrollment even in lower primary levels, as concerned parents seek academic continuity for their children amid the ongoing uncertainty.
Zombo district faces significant educational challenges, including a 10% dropout rate, poor academic performance, high rates of early marriage, and teenage pregnancies.
Stakeholders warn that the prolonged strike could exacerbate these issues, with only 23 candidates achieving Division One in last year’s PLE, while many scored low grades.
Francis Bolingo, the opposition coalition leader in Zombo, urged the government and UNATU to negotiate urgently, stating, “This strike is critical. We call for a compromise to ensure learners return to school. Forcing teachers to work without addressing their concerns risks ineffective teaching, jeopardizing learners’ futures.”
The West Nile sub-region, where Zombo is located, faces a dire educational landscape, with 28.7% of the population never having attended school, 48% completing only some primary education, and just 7.8% of over 3 million residents considered literate.
There is growing concern that an unresolved strike could mirror the post-COVID-19 period, during which over 6,000 teenage girls, primarily learners, became pregnant or married due to prolonged school closures.
UNATU General Secretary Filbert Baguma, in a September 28, 2025 address, defended the strike, emphasizing its necessity despite the critical academic term.
“We are aware of the upcoming examinations and cherish our learners, but the responsibility lies with those who have failed to address teachers’ concerns. Unmotivated teachers cannot deliver effectively,” Baguma stated, urging stakeholders to view the issue holistically.
The strike, involving approximately 150,000 UNATU members, sparked parliamentary debates on September 16, 2025, with legislators advocating for dialogue over intimidation to resolve the salary disparities.
Last week, the State Minister for Primary Education Joyce Moriku Kaducu acknowledged the government’s plan to address these disparities in the 2025/26 national budget, noting ongoing negotiations.
In 2022, a similar strike ended after government promises of phased salary increases, which remain unfulfilled.
While President Museveni has not commented directly, First Lady and Education Minister Janet Kataaha Museveni speaking after President Museveni’s nomination in Kololo, urged teachers to resume work, assuring them of future salary increments.
The Schools remain under the lock and key , as the industrial action enters third week.
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