Masaka Teachers Reject Museveni’s UGX 250M Saaco Money
An estimated 5000 teachers from greater Masaka region have boycotted the commissioning of 250million shillings government released to enhance teacher’s welfare.
The money has been released by Micro Finance Support Centre through South Buganda Teachers’ Sacco. This was part of the Museveni’s 25billion shillings grant pledged to support teachers.
This morning, officials from Micro Finance Support Centers officially commissioned the funds at South Buganda Teachers Sacco in Masaka disregarding a petition by teachers to receive the money through Uganda National Association of Teachers Union (UNATU).
Uganda Radio Network found only officials from Micro Finance Support Center, leaders of South Buganda Teachers sacco and boda boda cyclists.
Mathias Mukasa, the UNATU Coordinator Greater Masaka region, says all members of UNATU numbering over 5000 boycotted the ceremony. He says they sensitized teachers in greater Masaka region not to attend the function as sign of rejecting the money.
Mukasa explains that the conditions for getting the money was such that it would be released as grant and would go through UNATU sacco based in Kampala before members access it.
Mukasa says despite the petition by UNATU to Ministry of Education and Ministry of Finance opposing the transfer of this money to The Micro Finance Support Center limited, government went ahead and sent the money.
Mukasa now says they have rejected the money and asked teachers not to get it because South Buganda Teachers’ Sacco that has received it has hiked the interest from the agreed 11% to 24%.
Moses Nsereko Ssebuliba, the Unatu Chairman Lwengo district, says 1409 teachers have agreed to reject the money. He says in addition to having high interest of 2% per month, South Buganda Teachers’ Sacco is not credible.
John Ssali, a teacher in Kalungu District says he has rejected the money because South Buganda Teachers’ sacco is a fraud. He accuses the sacco of illegally seizing teachers’ money even after their loans had been serviced.
Ssali therefore says with that track record of fraud, he will not receive that money through South Buganda Teacher’s sacco.
He also accuses Charles Ndaula, the Chairperson South Buganda Teachers Sacco of creating a fake sacco where he embezzled over 60million shillings before he closed it.
However, Charles Ndawula, the embattled Chairman of South Buganda teachers Sacco who is accused of fraud has denied the allegations. He says he does not care about teachers who have boycotted.
He instead says their sacco applied to Micro Finance Support Center and they received the money.
Thomas Katuusi of Micro Finance Support Center says he is not aware of UNATU wrangles. He says they applied to manage this money and they received 6.8billion shillings.
Katuusi says they decided to give the money to South Buganda Teachers Sacco because they qualified for it.
Greater Luwero teachers also rejected the money in which money was transferred.
Jesca Alupo, the Minister of Education and Sports said that she is not aware the money has been rejected. She also said she was still busy to discuss teachers’ money.
Last year, President Yoweri Museveni met teachers under Uganda National Teachers’ Union and promised to give them a grant of 25billion shillings to enhance their welfare.
Museveni’s pledge was intended to persuade teachers to call off a strike over salary enhancement.
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