Teachers call strike as new term opens
Teachers’ representatives from different districts vote in support of a strike that is expected to begin today. This was during a meeting in Kampala yesterday. PHOTO BY DOMINIC BUKENYA.
KAMPALA- Teachers have said they will, starting today, strike over government’s failure to remit Shs10b as part of President Museveni’s pledge to the teachers’ union.
The announcement comes just a week to the opening of schools’ first term.
The decision was reached during a teachers meeting held at Teachers’ House in Kampala where district chairpersons resolved to camp at the Ministry of Education to demand the resignation of the Education minister Jessica Alupo and her permanent secretary, Rose Nassali Lukwago.
The teachers accuse ministry officials of diverting Shs10b which had been released as part of the Shs25b that President Museveni pledged in 2011 towards improving their welfare.
The pledge followed a strike that had paralysed teaching for almost a year as teachers demanded 100 per cent salary increment.
Ms Margaret Rwabushaija, Uganda National Teachers’ Union (Unatu) chairperson, made the announcement after teachers’ representatives across the country rejected a plea that they first hold a go-slow strike when the term begins on February 2. Teachers said there is no reason to hold students at ransom and thus resolved to camp at the ministry today until their issues are solved.
Ms Rwabushaija bowed to the pressure, saying: “We are going to write to the Inspector General of Police informing him of our march to the ministry to demand our money. The go slow strike will be during when school starts. We will then start a serious strike once they don’t heed to our warning.”
Teachers’ representatives will convene today at their offices on Bombo Road at 9am before marching to the ministry.
Mr James Tweheyo, the Unatu general secretary, said: “The President has given us (hot) air. It was a hoax. His silence is to see how strong or stupid the teachers are.”
However, Ms Lukwago yesterday said their action would be a disservice to the country since the President had honoured his pledge.
“The money was released. Somebody doesn’t just wake up and give the money like that. They have to first apply and that is a matter for Microfinance Support Centre. My duty was to receive the money. Unatu wasn’t an option. They were not a Sacco at the time.
They were beaten in terms of experience. MFC was the best bidder and this was done with the advice from the Attorney General. Funds were passed on legally to MFC,” she explained.
“Unatu should stop confusing people. This was a grant through the ministry of Education,” she added.
WHERE IS THE MONEY?
Because teachers’ saccos lacked capacity, the Ministry of Education procured Microfinance Support Centre to manage the teachers’ fund of Shs25b which President Museveni had promised them.
According to details Finance ministry in the 2013/14 financial year released Shs4.3b to the Education ministry, and another Shs2.5b in the 2014/15 financial year.
However, teachers wonder why Microfinance Support Centre is managing their funds yet it is not a stakeholder.
