Over 120,000 teachers across the country laid down tools starting June 15 over what they termed as discriminative, a 300% salary increment for the science teachers. The increment saw graduate science and grade V teachers’ pay pushed to Shs 4 million and Shs 3 million up from Shs 1.1 million and Shs 796,000 respectively.
The permanent secretary of ministry of Public Service, Catherine Bitarakwate Musingwiire now in a letter dated June 27, has invited the striking teachers to be represented by the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (Unatu) secretary-general Filbert Baguma and four union members for a meeting on July 1 at 2:00 pm. It remains to be seen if the meeting will yield any positives after the last one with President Museveni failed to resolve the impasse.
Unconfirmed reports indicate that even the 300% salary increment will be footed by Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) grant and is premised on the promotion of science subjects.
On Saturday last week, Unatu leadership met Museveni in the presence of cabinet ministers and senior government officials to discuss the matter at hand. After the meeting, Bitarakwate, vice resident Jessica Alupo, and the minister of ICT and National Guidance Chris Baryomunsi threatened to scrap the teachers off the payroll unless they return to class within two days.
In a circular addressed to teachers a fortnight ago, Bitarakwate gave the striking teachers an ultimatum to return to duty in two days or resign from duty. According to Bitarakwate, teachers who would abscond from duty after the two days would automatically be considered absent and risk being scrapped off the payroll.
She asked the chief administrative officers and town clerks to carry out inspections and take note of teachers who are absent. However, the government’s communication seemed to have pushed learners and headteachers further away from schools.
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