Makerere to decide on salary raise tomorrow

Makerere University top management has said it will decide on the staff’s demand for salary raise tomorrow. Prof. John Ddumba-Ssentamu, the vice chancellor, this week requested the council to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the staff issues.

He also indicated that they would recall the budget to include the 100 per cent pay raise demand. “The concerns of staff are genuine because they are the lowest paid lecturers in East Africa. With regard if university will meet their 100 per cent salary raise demand, we must wait for Friday when council sits,” Prof. Ssentamu said.

His comments follow a general assembly where both teaching and non-teaching staff agreed that their pay be revised by 100 per cent. They will meet again tomorrow afternoon after council’s meeting to decide on the way forward.
The students start their end of semester examinations on Monday.

Assembly
“The staff will reconvene on Friday after the council meeting to adopt their resolution on our salary rise. We are in support of the students. They have paid their tuition and there is no need they should continue to study under poor environment. We believe council will consider our position,” Dr Muhammed Kiggundu, the academic staff chairperson, said.

According to Prof. Ssentamu, the university contributes 40 per cent to the staff’s payment while the government meets the 60 per cent.
He explained that the delayed salary payment was not their fault as it was a countrywide problem.

Fees dilemma
Prof. Ssentamu said only 65 per cent of the private students had cleared their dues and warned that those who had not would not be allowed to do their examinations.

“We are not going to allow students who haven’t paid to sit their examination next week,” he said in an interview. Among other issues the staff want resolved is the appointment of college principals.

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