Teachers meet at Grace Gardens on Bombo Road during their strike last month. They were demanding a 20 per cent pay rise from government as promised by the President in 2011.
President Museveni held a meeting with Uganda National Teacher’s
Union (Unatu) officials to resolve the impasse over the teachers’ pay
raise.
Ms Sarah Kagingo, the presidential assistant in
charge of social media, said on Thursday, Mr Museveni had summoned Unatu
officials to State House in Entebbe for negotiations to prevent them
from resuming their countrywide strike.
Last month, teachers across the country, laid down
their tools to demand a 20 per cent pay rise from government as
promised by the President in 2011.
The strike paralysed learning across the country
forcing the government to plead with teachers to call off the strike as
negotiations continued.
The teachers agreed to suspend the strike for 28 working days pending conclusion of the talks.
Honouring pledge
While suspending the strike, Mr James Tweheyo, the Unatu secretary general, said government had committed to honour its pledge to increase the teachers’ salaries.
While suspending the strike, Mr James Tweheyo, the Unatu secretary general, said government had committed to honour its pledge to increase the teachers’ salaries.
He warned that they would resume the strike should nothing positive come out of their negotiations.
On Tuesday, teachers in Masaka threatened to disrupt the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) examinations after receiving information that government will only give them the pay rise in next financial year.
On Tuesday, teachers in Masaka threatened to disrupt the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) examinations after receiving information that government will only give them the pay rise in next financial year.
The threats prompted Mr Museveni to convene an impromptu meeting with Unatu leaders at Entebbe.
Ms Kagingo said more than 100 officials had attended the meeting.
Ms Kagingo said more than 100 officials had attended the meeting.
She explained that Museveni was negotiating with
Unatu to allow government implement the pay rise next financial year
because the available funds have already been committed to other sectors
such as roads and energy.
Mr Moses Nsereko Ssebuliba, the Masaka regional
Unatu chairperson, and his secretary general Mathias Mukasa confirmed
travelling to Entebbe for the meeting.
Mr Ssebuliba told URN by telephone from Entebbe
that they expected their national leaders to inform the President that
teachers need a pay rise urgently. Mr Mukasa said they also want Mr
Museveni to deal with government officials who are threatening to sack
teachers who participated in the strike.
He singled out several resident district
commissioners and Education Minister Jessica Alupo, whom he accuses of
being militant against teachers.
On Wednesday, while presiding over the
Independence Day celebrations in Rukungiri, the President said although
the government has money, it can’t give the teachers a pay raise because
there are other priority sectors.
Cause of strike
A primary school teacher earns about Shs260,000 shillings per month while their secondary school counterparts earn Shs400,000. Teachers working for government schools embarked on a nationwide strike at the beginning of this term demanding a 20 per cent rise on their salary. In 2011, the government had pledged to increase teachers’ pay by 20 per cent but now says it has no money to effect the increment.
A primary school teacher earns about Shs260,000 shillings per month while their secondary school counterparts earn Shs400,000. Teachers working for government schools embarked on a nationwide strike at the beginning of this term demanding a 20 per cent rise on their salary. In 2011, the government had pledged to increase teachers’ pay by 20 per cent but now says it has no money to effect the increment.
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