Makerere University lecturers call off strike

The increment is, however, 30 per cent short of the full lecturers’ demands.

The lecturers announced the end of the strike in a meeting at the university that was chaired by Dr. Mohammed Kiggundu, the chairman of the Makerere University Academic Staff Association (MUASA).

The lecturers started the strike on August 7, a move that paralysed operations of the university. Students who were supposed to report on August 17 could not make it since the University Council, the highest decision-making body of Uganda’s prime institute of higher learning announced its closure on August 17.

“We have decided to suspend the strike as negotiations between the university and government to raise our salaries by 100 per cent continue,” Dr Kiggundu said.

University Council members are attending a meeting that is expected to re-open the institution.

In the new payment schedule, lecturers in the College of Humanities would have their salaries raised from Shs2.9 million to Shs4.9 million before tax, indicating a gross increment of Shs2 million.

All the incentives for staff will become effective from September 30, 2013.

A professor will get Shs5.9 million from Shs3.5 million, while the vice chancellor will get Shs7.1 million from Shs4.2 million.

The changes will see the wage bill for humanities go up to Shs55.7 billion from Shs32.7 billion annually while the wage bill in science disciplines will rise to Shs52.8 billion from Shs33.2 billion.

The July and August 2013 salary arrears are expected to be paid in a period of six (6) weeks from the opening of the university.

The Monitor