KAMPALA — As the country battles novel coronavirus, non teaching staff in Public universities across the country have threatened boycott work when the semester resumes — pointing at the empty government promises to increase their salary.
The development was confirmed by Mr. Bruce Twesigye, the General Secretary of Public Universities Non-Teaching Staff Executive Forum (PUNTSEF) whose dissatisfaction stems from the UGX. 50 billion availed by Ministry of Finance for salary enhancement but ” was consumed by the teaching staff and scientists only.”
He says it is extremely unfair and unacceptable.
He told URN that all along they have been moving together and nobody was complaining even if the government had increased them with a little percentage at a time.
He says that teaching and non-teaching staff complement each other to deliver the core function of the universities—hence, they also need a share on the increment.
For his take, Jackson Betihamah, the PUNTSEF chairman warns of serious consequences over a plot to sideline non teaching staff.
He notes that from several online consultations with leadership and several non-teaching staff are ready not to resume their suspended industrial action should government ignore their request for an equitable say enhancement.
He says that they demand that a total of UGX. 91.3b be provided for in the 2021/2021 financial year budget to cater for the remaining enhancement of non-teaching staff as it was agreed upon.
In more interesting development, the publication has learnt that academic staff who the UGX. 50 billion was allocated to have since shown dissatisfaction noting that the distribution plan is putting up glaring inequalities, unfairness and attempts to divide them basing on their ranks as a bigger portion of the money was allocated to Vice-Chancellors, Professors and Associate Professors.
