Under the Umbrella Makerere University Academic Staff Association (MUASA), the Makerere University lecturers have once again threatened to go on strike come July 2018. While speaking on NBS television on Sunday, Dr. Deus Kamunyu Muhwezi revealed that the Shs 33 Billion budget allocated to public Universities is not sufficient to satisfy the needs of the public Universities staff.
“What we’ve seen so far is an allocation of 33 billion for all staff, but what we expected is 83 billion all together. Come July, without the concerns of the people addressed, a strike is inevitable.” Dr Kamunyu vowed.
The Makerere lecturers’ strike threat has come few weeks after President Museveni warned public savants like doctors and teachers from striking or else the government will import the cheap Cuban professionals, a debate that has been trending in the country. According to Dr. Kamunyu, the 2018/19 budget expected to drop in July should be able to meet the people’s (lecturers’) demands or else a strike is unavoidable.
Being Uganda’s biggest public University, the Makerere University lecturers have been known to be sure deal demonstrators in almost every year where they complain about a number of issues ranging from low salary payment, delayed payments, low allowances among others.