KAMPALA, UGANDA — Teachers at Kampala Parents’ School, a prestigious institution owned by prominent businessman Sudhir Rupaleria, staged a demonstration on the school premises, expressing their grievances over inadequate pay and significant wage disparities within the institution.
The educators claim that their salaries are substantially lower than those of non-teaching staff, particularly Asian security personnel, who allegedly earn over UGX 3 million per month. The teachers argue that their salaries do not reflect their professional qualifications and the crucial role they play in shaping students’ futures.
According to the protesting teachers, some educators earn as little as UGX 500,000 monthly, which they deem insufficient to meet their basic needs. The demonstrators called on the school management to address the alleged pay discrepancies and prioritize the welfare of teaching staff.
This protest is not an isolated incident, as Sudhir Rupaleria’s business empire has faced similar accusations of mistreating local employees. Workers at his Speke Resort Hotel have previously held protests, alleging low pay, work overload, and discriminatory treatment, with local staff reportedly earning significantly lower wages than their Indian counterparts.
Sudhir Rupaleria’s history of suppressing employee dissent is well-documented.
Notably, in 2020, he sacked the entire staff of his Sanyu FM radio station after they spoke out against low pay during the COVID-19 lockdown.
In a move that underscored his intolerance for employee activism, Rupaleria subsequently directed some of the affected staff to apologize and reapply for their jobs, while those deemed “ring leaders” were permanently dismissed.
The allegations against Sudhir Rupaleria’s businesses have raised concerns about the exploitation of local workers and the violation of Ugandan labor laws.
The Ministry of Education and labor unions are being urged to intervene and ensure fair treatment of teachers and workers at Kampala Parents’ School and other institutions owned by Sudhir Rupaleria.
