Makerere lecturers threaten to strike over allowances, again

Strikes by Makerere University lecturers especially at the beginning of the semester appear to have become the norm.

After a visitation committee recommended solutions to some of the long standing problems at the institution, one would have expected this trend to change.

Yet to the Makerere University Academic Staff Association (MUASA), there is still unfinished business!

According to Allan Ochieng the public relations officer of MUASA, the university has failed to resolve the issue of incentives offered to lecturers that teach on the evening programme.

Ochieng said: "If the harmonisation of incentives is not  put in place next academic year, the staff association agreed that the first semester will not open, and for the evening programs a special program should be put up."

Courses to be affected are mainly those in the College of Humanities.

The vice chancellor Makerere university,Prof Nawangwe said he is aware of the issue adding that it will be addressed soon.

Nawangwe said that in the new provision not all lecturers will be paid allowances for the extra work done for as long as its within the stipulated weekly 40hours, but assured that there will be special consideration for some lecturers who teach on the evening classes.

He said: ‘"The 40 hours include research, supervision, research, preparation and other activities, if a person fulfils these requirements, then evening teaching is outside their contract. That should be recognised and compensated."

He said due to limited funds, some evening classes could be scrapped next academic year especially those that with no financial output.