In a surprising development, teaching and non-teaching staff in all 10 public universities across the country have reportedly laid down their tools, going on strike demanding a pay rise, leaving thousands of students stranded.
The staff expressed their grief in a letter dated February 17, 2025, addressed to all academic, administrative, and support staff of public universities.
Click here to join our WhatsApp Group and Receive Daily News
Through their organization, the leadership of the Forum for Academic Staff of Public Universities (FASPU) and Non-teaching Executive Forum (PUNTSEF), the teachers indicated they had decided to down their tools, but the government failed to respond to their pleas for a prayer rise.
“Reference is made to the PUNTSEF and FASPU resolution of January 8, 2025, and subsequent resolutions by the staff of various public universities that if there is no reply to the letter dated January 9, 2025, to the Minister of Public Service, we shall withdraw our labor effective February 16, 2025, until the money for salary enhancement for outstanding categories of staff is included in the national budget for the financial year 2025/2026,” PUNTISEF chairperson, Mr. Jackson Betihamah’s letter reads in part.
The chairperson of the leadership of FASPU-PUNTSEF added that he had not received any feedback from the minister of public service by February 17.
“Therefore, all staff in public universities withdrew their labor as notified on January 9, 2025,” Mr. Betihamah added.
Pursuant to the FASPU-PUNTSEF General Assembly held on January 8, all academic, administrative, and support staff of public universities will resume their industrial action that was suspended on March 28, 2021, until the enhancement is included in the national budget for the financial year 2025/2026,” the letter reads in part.
Mr. OJambo, who also doubles as the spokesperson of the Public Universities Academic Staff Association, told this publication on Wednesday, February 19, that most universities, including Kyambogo University, Busitema University, Soroti University, Lira University, Gulu University, Mubs, and Mbarara University of Science and Technology, had notified their members to go on strike.
“We want the government to increase salaries of all the university staff in PSU 5 to PSU 15. The salaries of professors and associate professors were increased to 100 percent in the 2019/2020 budget. The government promised to increase ours later, but COVID-19 came in and the government asked us to be patient. To date, nothing has happened as earlier promised,” Mr. Ojambo vowed.
Reports state a Makerere University staff meeting was blocked by security operatives at the meeting venue allegedly on orders of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe.
The chairperson of Makerere University administrative staff, Mr. Bennet Magara, indicated that despite the meeting being blocked, they were yet to find other means of informing their staff.
The government approved Shs61 billion for salary harmonization in public universities this financial year. However, some universities sought to divert the money to recruit new staff, a move that angered long-serving staff.
Last year, Makerere University staff resolved to lay down their tools due to management’s failure to harmonize salaries, despite the government releasing funds for all public universities across the country.
In another letter dated February 5, 2025 addressed to the Chairperson, Kyambogo University Council, signed by Mr. Robert Ojambo, the Kyambogo University Academic Staff Association’s (KYUASA) Chairperson, Ms. Mary Birungi, Chairperson, Kyambogo University Senior Administrative Staff Association (KYUSASA), and Mr. Tadeo Zziwa, Chairperson, National Union of Education Institutions (NUEI) Kyambogo University branch, members also threatened to withdraw labor over salary enhancement.
However, the Ministry of Public Service Permanent Secretary (PS), Ms. Catherine Bitarakwate Musingwiire, argues the lecturers in public universities are mixing two things: salary increment and harmonization.
When contacted about the issue, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Education, Dr. Denis Mugimba, said, “We are not the ones who effect salary increments; the ministry of public service is the best entity to handle it. They are exercising their rights because these are unions, but it is affecting the fulfillment of institutions mandates to its different gains.”
According to the Ministry of Finance, the staff issue is more of a policy matter and is beyond their control.
“The matter is not about salaries alone. It has policy implications. I am also aware that President Museveni has already commented about enhancement of salaries,” the ministry’s spokesperson, Mr. Jim Mugunga, said.
It should be remembered that in 2015, President Museveni directed for salary enhancement of teaching staff in public universities, with professors earning Shs15 million per month each.
Also Read:Â Authorities Launch Investigations as Anthrax Kills Two in Kazo
