No vote without our money, teachers tell Museveni

KAMPALA.

Teachers under their umbrella Uganda National Teachers Union (Unatu) have told President Museveni he will not get their vote in 2016 elections unless they are paid the money he promised them four years ago.

Mr James Tweheyo, the Unatu general secretary, told Saturday Monitor government has played a four-year ‘hide-and-seek’ game involving officials from ministry of Education and ministry of Finance since the first batch of the money was released.
In 2011 when teachers went on a three-week strike demanding a 100 per cent salary raise, President Museveni promised to give them 50 per cent wage increment in three consecutive financial years.

In addition, he promised to give them Shs25b to improve their welfare. The teachers agreed but the payment has been difficult to come through. Every year, the teachers continue to threaten a repeat strike over the unfulfilled promise.
The lowest salary for a teacher is Shs378,000 per month, up from Shs270,000 before the strike in 2011.

“I want to assure President Museveni that the teachers will not give him their votes unless they get their money. I repeat it that no vote without our money. It was a grant but your officers have put all barriers for us not to get the money. If this money is not in our Sacco, I can guarantee you that we will not vote you as president next year,” Mr Tweheyo said.

Mr Tweheyo was elected National Resistance Movement (NRM) workers league chairman in the recently concluded internal party elections.

Mr Ofwono Opondo, the government spokesperson, defended the ministry officials saying they are conscious of the law as accounting officers.

“Government money can’t just be given like that and this Tweheyo should stop holding teachers like they were his. He thinks because the President has directed, we can just give the money. I am sure the PS wants to follow the law. Otherwise, how safe is this Shs25b in the teachers’ hands?”Mr Opondo asked.

Mr Mike Sebalu, Mr Meseveni’s taskforce spokesperson, said: “As a person who was in charge to implement the President’s manifesto, Mr Amama Mbabazi should have made good of that promise. Amama is largely responsible for delaying the teachers’ payment.

“ He was involved in negotiating, supervising and a leader of government business. Our candidate President Museveni will make good of the promise.”

Initially, the ministry argued that the teachers’ Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisation (SACCO) hierarchy lacked the capacity to handle money of that magnitude and tasked the Microfinance Support Centre to manage it on their behalf. The money was to attract an interest of about 17 per cent which the teachers have objected to.

Already, Shs10b has been released to the fund manager but the teachers have rejected it. Early this year, the teachers put down their tools again. The negotiations that followed saw a directive that they get their money.

In an August letter to Education permanent secretary, Mr Keith Muhakanizi, the secretary to the treasury, said he had “no objection” to the transfer of funds to the teachers SACCO. However, he warned that all legal requirements must be followed.

On behalf of the Solicitor General, Ms Faith Nyamwenge advised the ministry to enter a finance management agreement with the teachers SACCO to incorporate mechanisms of accountability in accordance with government procedures and that the teachers should also agree to be audited.

On November 18, Ms Rose Nassali Lukwago, the permanent secretary Ministry of Education, invited the teachers to bid to manage the money reasoning that it would help her ministry evaluate their capacity to handle it.

“The accounting officer shall be responsible and accountable to Parliament for activities of a vote hence the need for me to ensure that all legal requirements are met. By returning your bid, you will enable us to evaluate your capacity and competence to handle the funds and we would have fulfilled the legal requirement for public procuring and contracting,” Ms Nassali told the teachers’ SACCO.
The teachers have not responded to Nassali’s directive.

opposition promises to teachers

FDC presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye, has promised to increase salary for primary and secondary teachers to Shs650,000 and Shs1m per month respectively. With 125,000 primary teachers and 35,000 secondary teachers on payroll, it would require government about Shs1.4 trillion per year to pay the teachers.

Mr Museveni has criticised Besigye’s pledge as unrealistic and instead presented Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) programme as the alternative, where government gives seedlings and livestock to households to fight poverty.

Presidential candidates Amama Mbabazi and Prof Venansius Baryamureeba have also promised to increase the teachers’ salaries, but did not specify the amount. For instance, Mr Mbabazi’s manifesto says he will significantly pay and improve their welfare, provide free staff houses and teachers cooperative and savings society in every sub-county.

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