Staff from Mbarara University of Science and Technology, both teaching and non-teaching have laid down their tools today protesting the management of the Vice Chancellor (VC) of the university Prof. Celestino Obua.
In a press release published at the university noticed boards today, and dated 2nd May 2019, the chairperson of MUSTASA, the association of the staff at the university Dr. John Emenyu and Kakuru Charles, only identified as the chairperson of NEUI, MUST state that an emergency general assembly sat today. and agreed to lay down their tools.
“…the Emergency General Assembly unanimously agreed that all University Staff, both teaching and non-teaching lay down their tools…” reads the release in part.
The release mentions that the strike has been the measure of last resort citing six other meetings that were held to try and resolve the matter.
“Today marks the 6th General Assembly meeting on matters of misconduct and mismanagement of MUST by Professor Celestino Obua” continues the letter. The matters according to the document arose on the 4th April 2019, where evidence of such mismanagement was presented.
From the meetings that were held, resolutions were passed one of which required that the MUST management and the University Council sit and authorize a forensic audit so that action can be taken against anyone found capable of disregarding the rule of law, procedure and guidelines of the university. The release faults the VC for not taking action on the resolutions. The resolutions also demanded that the VC be retired and have since not been effected.
The strike is premised on the fact that the above resolutions have been ignored by the management and no action has been taken. The staff in the release also mention that they are open to dialogue, however, the strike would continue in the meantime until dialogue is initiated and a consensus is reached.
