Another teachers’ strike looming amid new grievances

The Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) has given government up to the end of today to pay all teachers their salaries. This ultimatum was pronounced in a press conference that was held at UNATU offices on Wednesday.

According to James Tweheyo, UNATU’s general secretary, the decimal 15% salary increment (shs. 40, 000) for teachers has not been forthcoming despite claims that it was budgeted for in the 2012/13 financial year. However, the teachers demand 100% increment of their salary so that they earn shs 540,000 shillings per month from shs 270,000.   

There are teachers who are only receiving half pay, those who have not been paid since July and many are living off loans from banks.

 “Our understanding and patience is killing us. Should we be castigated for our pay! If government does not respond positively after today’s national executive meeting, then we shall close all schools,” Tweheyo said. 

In Kayunga district, 190 deputy head teachers have not realised this salary increment while in Abim, Amuru and Palisa, the UPE and USE capitation grants have not been sent since July.

Also, the unexplained deletion of teachers from the pay roll is agitating them. Margaret Rwabashaija, UNATU’s chairperson told journalists that about 1000 teachers are deleted from the payroll every month supposedly as ghosts.

“In Kabale district, 200 teachers have been deleted from the pay roll and one teacher has spent eight months without pay. The payroll management is ruinous!” Rwabashaija complained. 

Meanwhile, the teachers blame Abim, Lwengo, Kabale, Namayengo and Amuru district Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) for being too ‘busy’ to submit lists of verified teachers to the Ministry of Public Service.

Last year disgruntled teachers began demanding higher salaries arguing that the high cost of living, high commodity prices and high school fees meant they could no longer afford to meet their family needs. This year, unfulfilled promises of salary increment by government have seen the teachers under their umbrella organization, UNATU, hold a couple of strikes. 

Amid increasing pressure and anxiety, teachers in Mukono and Kayunga districts have already laid down their tools. If effected country wide, the strike will see more than 80, 000 teachers boycott teaching and disrupting the ongoing UCE and UACE examinations.

The intending strike comes when schools are left with two weeks to the end of third term.

Other grievous issues:

30% salary increment for Science teachers:

While government committed itself to enhancing Science teachers’ salaries by 30% with effect from October this year. But to date, this has not been effected. Non responsiveness of the Ministry of Public Service:

Tweheyo said that despite numerous visits to the ministry and several communications about their grievances, they are never honoured and their letters of inquiry never responded to on time.

 “The ministry claims to have deposited the money on teachers accounts by the close of business yesterday, no secondary school teacher had received salary for the month of October,” Tweheyo grieved. 

Gazetting world teachers’ day, 5^th October as a public holiday:

On 27^th July this year, during teachers’ day celebrations in Lugogo, President Yoweri Museveni directed responsible ministries to declare 5^th October a public holiday for teachers. However, UNATU officials claim that Ministry of Public Service issued a contrary statement denying the day’s gazetting. 

Pay as you earn threshold:

Despite parliament’s endorsement of increasing the PAYE threshold from shs 130,000 to shs 235, 000 in the 2012/2013 budget, teachers claim they have not realized the effect. 

ninsiima@observer.ug