President Yoweri Museveni has clearly stated that an immediate salary increase for public servants, including teachers, is off the table, emphasizing that national infrastructure and security must take precedence. Speaking at a campaign rally in Abim District, the President outlined his vision for the country’s resources, directing them first toward building what he calls the “foundations of economic growth.”

Museveni argued that the nation must focus its spending on critical projects like road construction and expanding electricity access to stimulate business and services. He bolstered his position with a poignant observation from a recent trip to Gulu, where he witnessed soldiers living in grass-thatched houses. This, he stated, is a stark example of the more fundamental issues that require addressing before the government can consider enhancing public sector pay. His message frames the debate as a matter of sequence, not refusal, asking for patience as the government first secures the nation’s physical and economic bedrock.