Public Service minister to give statement on salary enhancement for public officers

Jul 06, 2022

The teachers, in both government primary and secondary schools, announced a sit-down strike on June 15. 

Minister of Public Service, Wilson Muruli Mukasa in parliament (Photo by Maria Wamala)

Betty Amamukirori
Journalist @New Vision

The Minister of Public Service, Wilson Muruli Mukasa, is expected to appear before Parliament today to give a statement on the enhancement of pay for public officers and the arts teacher’s industrial action over unfair remuneration. 

On Sunday, arts teachers under their umbrella body Uganda National Teachers Union (UNATU) suspended their strike over discriminatory pay in favour of their science counterparts, after meeting President Yoweri Museveni and the Minister for Education, Janet Kataha Museveni in Kololo. 

The teachers, in both government primary and secondary schools, announced a sit-down strike on June 15. 

Following the meeting with the teachers’ leadership, the UNATU General Secretary, Filbert Baguma said they decided to suspend the strike for the good of learners but noted that engagement with government is ongoing. 

Museveni, after meeting the teachers’ leaders issued a statement, noting that government acknowledges the issues raised by the Arts teachers but is also aware of salary issues from other workers; the army, Police officers, who are equally important to the growth and development of this country. 

“We have provided a position as government and pledged to competitively remunerate workers guided by a science-led strategy. This does not mean we have forgotten others, but we are choosing to prioritize the few and others can come later,” he said. 

He added, “We must finish one problem at a time. The Arts teachers insist that we should use the available resources to improve salaries across the board, whilst this is possible, it does not solve the salary issue. It is okumemerera (sprinkling), where everyone will get a little and then next year everyone strikes,” President Museveni said after the meeting.” 

Minister Muruli’s expected appearance before plenary today is also premised on claims that other public servants are also threatening to lay down their tools over poor pay. 

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