Kyambogo staff in standoff over salaries

KAMPALA - A row between Kyambogo University teaching and non-teaching staff is brewing as a decision by government to increase salaries of the former takes effect this financial year.

Non-teaching staff feel the move is unfair to them.

Aggrieved and feeling marginalized, they want their concerns addressed. The group argues that they too need a pay rise because they are responsible for preparing university schedules, salary structures, among others.

They are lobbying for the harmonization of the increment to suit both parties.

Robert Ojambo, the Kyambogo University Academic Staff Association (KYUASA) acting secretary of publicity, spoke out on the matter during Tuesday's general assembly.

He said of the sh8.1bn allocated to the university by the ministry of public service, sh4.9bn was meant for salaries for academic staff and sh3.2bn for non- teaching staff.

Ojambo was elected among the two members who will be representing academic staff in the new University Council. The other council representative is Alexander Isiko Paul.

A group photo of the newly-elected KYUASA executive committee. (Credit: Tony Rujuta)

During the same meeting, Rev. Dr. Grace Lubaale was re-elected as the chairperson of KYUASA.

Newly-elected KYUASA secretary general Emmanuel Wandera dismissed the call by non-teaching staff for harmonization of funds, saying it is untenable.

"In essence what they are saying is that if a lecturer under an M6 salary scale is meant to earn sh7.6m, a university cook under the same salary scale should earn the same. This will mean that the lecturer will end up parting with sh4m in order to raise the cook's salary at the same level," he said.

Government last year allocated sh50bn to accommodate a salary increment for academic staff in public universities.

Under the new salary structure, a science professor is to earn sh8.2m and a non-science professor sh7.2m. An associate professor teaching sciences will get sh7.6m while an associate professor teaching arts will earn sh6.98m.

A senior lecturer teaching sciences under the enhanced salary structure is expected to get sh6.91m while his counterpart in the arts program sh6.3m.

A science lecturer shall earn sh6.2m and an arts lecturer sh5.8m. An assistant lecturer (sciences) is expected to earn sh4.6m and his colleague in the arts field sh4.15m, and science teaching assistants shall get sh4.13 while their arts teaching counterparts will earn sh 3.38m.

"We totally support the non-teaching support staff in their fight for an increase in salary but they should not tamper with our money," Ojambo told the meeting, adding that the clamoring for harmonization of salaries by the non-teaching staff will undo the gains made by the academic staff.

Rev. Dr. Grace Lubaale was re-elected as KYUASA chairperson.  (Credit: Tony Rujuta)

In a meeting mid-last year between the non-academic staff under their umbrella body, Public Universities Non-teaching Staff Executive Forum (PUNTSEF) and the Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, an agreement was reached to raise their salaries to match that of the academics beginning 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 fiscal years.

Jackson Betihamah, the chairman of PUNTSEF told New Vision after a meeting with the forum that the university non-teaching staff have vowed to put down their tools come August 1.

They issued the ultimatum after delivering a resolution to Dr. Chrysestom Muyingo, the state minister for higher education.

"We were recruited under the same terms and conditions and therefore I do not see why we should be underpaid. In fact whereas teachers have time off, we are in offices from morning to evening," said Betihamah.

If the situation does not change, a new policy should be put in place to address the matter, he added.

Betihamah said Muyingo promised to give the non-teaching staff feedback on the matter on Thursday.