President Yoweri Museveni has promised to look for additional funds to enhance teachers salaries in July.
Teachers earlier this month had initially announced that they will not be opening for the second term if government fails to fulfill its promise of enhancing their salary in the 2018/219 financial year.
But yesterday (Sunday), teachers under their umbrella association of Uganda National Teachers Union (UNATU) held talks with President Museveni and officials from the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Public Service from where they called off the planned strike and they have opened for the new term today.
In his speech, President Museveni asked the teachers not to cause problems to the country and pledged that government will look for funds to facilitate their salary increments in the next two months.
The president said that the teachers ought to seek for equitable salary structures for all civil servants through establishing a harmonized salary board.
The meeting was held at the office of the Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda.
Patrick Muinda the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Education said that they agreed to meet the teachers again at the end of July for further discussions about their salary increments.
Usher Owere, the chairman general of the National Organisation Of Trade Unions( NOTU), realised a statement to the effect that the strike has been suspended pending further talks. The statement in full below.
"Government Teachers leaders , Uganda National Teachers Union( UNATU) National Organisation Of Trade Unions (NOTU) , Central Organisation Of Free Trade Unions (COFTU) Workers Members Of Parliament agree to suspend Industrial Action for one term after H.E President Yower Kaguta Museveni agreed on the following;
1. That 49 billion which had been appropriated in this budget has not been distributed to any Teachers
2.The President has request for the strikes to be suspended for one term not the two weeks which UNATU had demanded .
3. President has asked to be given up to 30th of July 2019 to rise 202 billions for the teachers to achieve 50% increment for Teacher.
We congratulate all the leadership of UNATU , NOTU, COFTU all member of Parliament ,We shall make sure this agreed position reached with government is fulfilled."
Owere Usher Wilson
Chairman General NOTU
