Makerere University lecturers are on strike and the students have been sent home. The government has threatened to sack the striking lecturers.

Today, the third term of the secondary and primary academic calendar begins, but teachers and the umbrella Uganda National Teachers Union are on strike too. The teachers, who want a 100 per cent pay raise, first went on strike in July.

All the strike have a 'money' element in them.

The government insists that there is no money to increase teachers' salary this financial year and has warned that teachers who participate in the strike will face disciplinary action.

Last week, Education Minister  told Parliament that salaries will not be increased this year because government policy does not accept selective increments and warned that any teacher who does not report for duty on September 5 (today) would be sacked. The same sentiment was echoed by the Prime Minister.

The union spokesperson has also indicated that head teachers are receiving a lot of intimidation from Resident District Commissioners and police in various districts to discourage them from the planned strike.