Teachers suspend strike

UNATU district leaders marching to the ministry of Education and sports. Led by their General Secretary James Tweheyo and their Vice National Chairperson Gonza Ssensamba, they met the State Minister of Higher Education John Chrysostom Muyingo and handed him their petition. PHOTO BY ABUBAKER LUBOWA

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Teachers said there is no reason to hold students at ransom and thus had resolved to camp at the ministry today until their issues are solved

Teachers have suspended their planned strike and are to resume duty when schools open for first term. This comes barely a day after the teachers announced they would, starting today, strike over government’s failure to remit Shs10b as part of President Museveni’s pledge to the teachers’ union.
The suspension of the strike followed a meeting between the teachers and the state minister for higher education, Mr John Chrysostom Muyingo on Thursday at the Ministry Headquarters in Kampala in which the minister agreed to address their grievances.
However, the teachers gave government a 90days ultimatum, threatening to resume their strike if government fails to address their grievances.
The meeting was prompted by a petition by the teachers demanding 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.
Teachers said there is no reason to hold students at ransom and thus had resolved to camp at the ministry today until their issues are solved.