FINALLY!! Arts Teachers And Primary School Teachers And Head Teachers Get Salary Increment!! See The Millions They Are To Start Earning

A proposed new salary structure starting July 01, 2026 indicates salary increment for arts teachers, primary teachers and headteachers, in what officials describe as a long-awaited intervention aimed at addressing pay disparities in the education sector.

This means that arts teachers in secondary schools, primary school teachers, headteachers and deputy headteachers are two months away from salary increment they have had to wait for for long, sometime staging strikes to push their demands and drive their point home. The development signals a shift after years of agitation by educators who argued that stagnant wages had eroded morale and service delivery.

Reports indicate that government has approved a long-awaited salary enhancement for arts teachers across Uganda, bringing relief to thousands of educators who have gone years without a pay rise. The adjustment is part of broader public service reforms targeting improved welfare for civil servants in critical sectors.

According to the approved pay structure, a headteacher at a government primary school will now earn Shs1.5 million per month, up from Shs980,000, while a deputy headteacher’s salary will increase from about Shs775,000 to Shs1.3 million. The revised figures mark one of the most significant increments for primary school administrators in recent years.

At the lower end of the scale, an education assistant will earn a starting salary of Shs700,000, up from Shs449,000, while senior education assistants will see their pay rise to about Shs727,000, from Shs602,000. The increases are expected to ease financial pressure on teachers who have long cited low pay as a major challenge.

The new salary adjustments, which take effect on July 1, 2026, are expected to benefit a total of 156,407 teachers, particularly those teaching humanities subjects at both primary and secondary levels, as well as tutors in technical institutions. The government says the move is intended to improve equity within the profession while retaining experienced educators.

These will include 132,278 beneficiaries at primary level, who include primary school teachers, headteachers and their deputies: 8,226 headteachers, 6,978 deputy headteachers, 11,293 senior education assistants, and 105,781 education assistants. Officials note that the bulk of beneficiaries are classroom teachers, reflecting the structure of the country’s education workforce.

At post-primary level, 24,129 are secondary school teachers and tutors — 1,097 headteachers and principals, 1,057 deputy headteachers and deputy principals, 21,975 classroom teachers and tutors — will benefit.

Secondary school salaries improved

Under the new structure, a secondary school headteacher with an arts degree will now earn up to Shs3.5 million per month, up from about Shs2.3 million. Similar adjustments apply to principals of certificate-awarding institutions with arts backgrounds, according to the approved framework.

Despite the increment, arts teachers will still earn less than their science counterparts, whose salaries were enhanced earlier, maintaining a disparity between the two categories. Education analysts say the gap remains a contentious issue that could continue to shape policy debates.

Relief after years of delay

The salary enhancement comes after more than a decade without a pay rise for many primary school teachers. During this period, many educators struggled financially, with some resorting to loans to make ends meet, while others opted for early retirement or sought alternative sources of income.

The latest development is therefore being viewed as both a relief measure and a strategic attempt to stabilize the teaching workforce, especially in rural and underserved areas where staffing shortages have been persistent.

Salary increment summary for primary and arts secondary teachers

Secondary School

Headteachers and Principals: From Shs 2.2m – 2.3m to Shs 3.5m
Deputy headteachers and deputy principals: From Shs 1.6m – 1.7m to Shs 2.1m
Education Officers: From Shs 960,000 – 1.1m to Shs 1.2m
Assistant Education Officers: From Shs 700,000 to Shs 1.3m

Primary School

Headteachers: From Shs 777,000 – 980,000 to Shs 1.5m
Deputy Headteachers: From Shs 662,000 – 773,000 to Shs 1.3m
Senior Education Assistants: From Shs 602,000 – 613,000 to Shs 727,000
Education Assistants: From Shs 449,000 – 605,000 to Shs 700,000

Also getting salary increment starting July 2026 are RDCs, deputies and assistants, according to the reports, in a move that extends the pay review beyond the education sector.

The implementation of the new structure will be closely watched as teachers and education stakeholders assess its impact on livelihoods, motivation and the overall quality of education across the country.