ALUPO: 100% Pay Rise For MUK Not Possible
Jessica Alupo, Uganda's Minister of Education and Sports.
The Minister of Education and Sports Jessica Alupo has said that the 100 percent salary increment that the Makerere University lecturers are demanding for is not possible.
While appearing before the parliamentary committee on Education and Sports on Thursday August 15, the minister said that government has been holding smooth meetings with the management of the university to look for a solution saying that the issues can only be addressed gradually.
Alupo said that the university council was directed to start consulting the teaching staff to identify the ones that are willing to continue under the status quo as the problems engulfing the university are addressed.
She said that although the communication from the University Council about closure came as shock to government, the council took the right decision.
Alupo said the decision to close the university could have saved it from more serious chaos if the students had reported and found the lecturers on strike. She added that government is working very closely with the University to ensure that it reopens soon.
Shadow minister of Education and Sports Franca Akello asked the minster to explain how long the university will be closed for and she said that the Vice Chancellor’s office remained open to address administrative issues so that the university is reopened as soon as possible.
Kalungu West MP Joseph Ssewungu said that the government is giving contradicting statements saying that while the Prime Minister is saying there is no money for any increment, the Minister is saying the financial problems will be addressed.
The minister responded saying that there is no money to cater for the 100% increment in the short run, but as government and the university keep dialoguing, a middle ground can be reached.
Makerere University was closed yesterday August 14 after lecturers vowed not to teach demanding a 100 percent salary increment.
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