UNATU summons urgent top leadership meeting for final resolution

By Ben Musanje

1^st July 2022

The leadership of the Uganda National Teachers Union –UNATU has summoned the National Executive Council and the Branch Chairpersons for an urgent meeting this Sunday over the two letters received from the Ministry of Public Service about the ongoing strike.

These two letters seen by Radio Sapientia, are dated June 30^th, 2022 and one is signed by the Public Service Minister Wilson Mululi Mukasa addressed to the UNATU Chairperson Zadok Tumuhimbise while another one is signed by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Catherine Bitarakwate Musingwiire addressed to the Union’s Secretary General Filbert Bate Baguma.

They both request UNATU to call off the strike by inviting the Arts striking teacher back to classes at the earliest time as the government continues to fulfill its commitment of implementing the approved pay plan concerning all employees in the public service within the medium term.

Filbert Baguma, the UNATU General Secretary says the meeting that is expected to be held at the Teachers House in Wandegeya along Bombo road is expected to come up with the final resolution on both letters in regards to their industrial action.

Despite meeting President Yoweri Museveni and later the Vice President Jessica Alupo as well as receiving warning letters from the Ministry of Public Service Permanent Secretary Catherine Bitarakwate, UNATU has persistently declined to call off the strike that has so far lasted for three week.

The strike was sparked off by a government decision to increase the pay for science teachers nearly by 300 percent. The increment saw graduate science and grade V teachers’ pay pushed to four million and 3 million Shillings up from 1.1million and 796,000 Shillings respectively.