Makerere lecturers suspend strike

Dec 19, 2016

When the matter was put to vote in a Monday morning meeting, 81 voted in favor of the suspension of the strike while 51 voted to stay the strike.

 Lecturers vote to suspend strike. Photo by Mary Kansiime

Makerere university lecturers under their umbrella body, Makerere University Academic Staff Association (MUASA) have suspended strike to create room for the re-opening which is yet to be discussed by university council and other relevant stakeholders.

This was during the emergency general meeting held at Makerere university main hall on Monday. The decision was reached at through an open voting where 81 lecturers supported the suspension while 56 voted to continue the strike.

Dr. Muhammad Kiggundu the MUASA chairperson said that the decision to suspend the strike was to ease the work of the visitation committee, to save the face of Makerere, to help next year graduands to finish the process of clearing for graduation as well as to save the public outcry over the closure.

However, MUASA spokesperson, Dr. Deus Muhwezi said that calling off the strike university does not mean opening.

"The powers of opening remain vested in someone who closed it, therefore we have no decision on the reopening," he said.

He added that their strike as MUASA has not solved their grievances but noted some few achievements including the appointment of the visitation committee.

Makerere University was closed on November 1 to guarantee safety of property and persons, following a long standoff that had sucked in the students.

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