Makerere University staff members are gearing up for a strike scheduled for next week, protesting the alleged failure of the university to align their salaries adequately. The Joint Staff Associations, comprising the Makerere University Academic Staff Association (MUASA), Makerere Administrative Staff Association (MASA), and the National Union of Education Institutions (NUEI) – Makerere branch, made this announcement during a media briefing at Bativa Hotel in Kampala.
Originally planned at MUASA Offices within Makerere University, the press conference faced obstruction by the police, led by Sergeant Muhwezi, following orders from the administration not to allow it within the university premises. The primary contention revolves around the perceived lower salaries earned by Makerere University staff in comparison to their counterparts at other public universities in Uganda.
Dr. Robert Kakuru, MUASA chairperson, highlighted the prolonged dispute over salary harmonization that has persisted for nearly a decade. Last year, the Ministry of Public Service allocated 12 billion shillings to address this issue. However, Kakuru revealed that the funds were not reflected in the 2023/2024 budget, with the Ministry citing unavailability of the allocated money.
An emergency general assembly convened by the staff set a deadline for the government to address the matter by August 18, 2023. Following the expiration of a 90-day ultimatum in November 2023, the staff extended the deadline until January 14, 2024, after which they intend to initiate industrial action without further negotiations.
Justine Namudde, Secretary General of NUEI – Makerere Branch, emphasized the injustice of individuals with similar qualifications receiving disparate salaries. Namudde cited an example where a library assistant at Makerere University earns 1.2 million shillings, while counterparts at Kyambogo receive more than 2 million shillings.
Deputy Secretary General of MUASA, Joan Kakongoro, expressed frustration at the administration’s failure to fulfill agreements reached during negotiations. Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, appealed to Parliament’s Committee on Education and Sports for urgent funds to address salary harmonization and pro-rata salary enhancement during the defense of the University’s budget framework paper for the Financial Year 2024/2025.
However, Kakuru remained skeptical, noting that the same issue was presented to Parliament last year without receiving the necessary funding. The Associations have persistently advocated for salary harmonization, with a previous petition to the University council in 2017 leading to the formation of a salary harmonization committee.
The committee, chaired by Thomas Tayebwa, outlined a financial requirement of 23 billion Shillings to align Makerere University staff salaries with those of other public universities. The breakdown indicated a need for 17.7 billion Shillings for academic staff, 4.3 billion Shillings for administrative staff, and 669 million Shillings for support staff.
The impending strike threat coincides with the university’s preparations for the second semester of the 2023/2024 academic year, commencing on January 13, 2024, and just ahead of the 74th graduation scheduled to start on January 29, 2024.
