Teaching staff in several Ugandan universities have resolved to lay down their tools starting on 6th February over failure by the government to enhance their salaries as earlier directed by President Museveni.
According to Dr. Deus Kamunyu Muhwezi, the Chairperson of the Forum for Academic Staff Association in Public Universities (FAPSU), they had planned to strike in June 2020 but later decided to postpone following the financial hardships that rocked the government due to the outbreak of COVID-19.
Following the COVID-19 – related financial hardships, the staff decided to continue teaching finalists who are currently done with both studies and exams. The disappointed Kamunyu further disclosed that President Museveni ordered the Ministry of Public Service to enhance their salaries but they instead enhanced Vice Chancellors, professors and Deputy Vice Chancellors.
“To our dismay, on vice chancellors, deputy vice chancellors and professors were fully enhanced in the financial year 2020/2021 and the rest were left out so the government should fulfill its promise,” Kamunyu said.
Museveni directed the mentioned ministry to allocate UGX 179.24 Billion for full enhancement of academic staff salaries putting the Professor at UGX 15M and a lecturer at UGX 12.2M.
In multiple letters addressed to several Makerere FAPSU members, Prof Barnabas Nawangwe warned them against misleading other lecturers, explaining that the association is not recognized by the Uganda and Other Tertiary Institutions Act.
“FAPSU is not recognized under the Uganda and other Tertiary Institutions Act as a staff association and any perceived undertaking by it on behalf of staff of Makerere University. You are strongly advised to desist from any further dealing under the umbrella FAPSU aimed at distabilising activities at the university,” Part of Prof Nawangwe’s letter reads.
Kamunyu, who is not shaken by Nawangwe’s letter disclosed that it is not right for the Makerere Vice Chancellor to continue threatening them whenever they try to stand up against issues affecting them .
The Ministry of Public Service communicated last year that it will only enhance salaries for public university academic staff in phases.
