Details of Vice President Alupo’s Meeting With UNATU Leaders Emerge
Kampala:The Vice President Jessica Rose Epel Alupo has on Wednesday met with the leadership of the Uganda National Teachers Union (UNATU) led by their Secretary General Filbert Baguma regarding the ongoing teacher’s industrial action.
The meeting was attended by the Minister of Public Service Hon. Muruli Mukasa, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Public Service, Catherine Bitarakwate Musingwiire, Workers’ MPs, among other officials from the Government.
The meeting which was held under a very cordial spirit, and held under the guidance of H.E the President, was chaired by H.E the Vice President, and sought to end the deadlock.
According to sources privy to the meeting, the Vice President expressed the views and request from the President, to have all schools reopened and all learners accessing education.
This especially in light of the fact that learners lost two years of education due to COVID-19.
‘’The meeting, after lengthy discussion, agreed to have urgent continued interaction and engagement on the issues therein’’, said a source.
H.E. the Vice President shall report back to H.E. the President, as the leadership of NATU holds further internal meetings on the same, added our source.
In the last budget speech read recently, the finance minister announced that sh900b had been earmarked for the enhancement of salaries for scientists, including science teachers.
However, UNATU has opposed the selective enhancement of salaries for science teachers, insisting that this contradicted their CBA with the Government.
Effective July 1, all non-medical science graduates, including science teachers, will earn sh4m and medical graduates sh5m.
Diploma holder science teachers will earn sh3m per month. In comparison, graduate arts teachers earn sh960,000-sh1.3m depending on experience. Diploma arts teachers are paid sh745,000- sh784,000.