Staff strike freezes activity at Makerere

KAMPALA - Police deployed heavily at Makerere University on Monday to calm down angry students after a strike by non-teaching staff paralyzed activity at the campus.

The staff resumed their sit-down strike protesting government's failure to fulfill its pledge of paying up salary arrears and increasing their pay.

Their colleagues in other public universities are understood to have laid down their tools as well.

Eggesa Obuli, the assistant administration of the College of Agriculture and Environmental Science, who is also the college representative to the National Union of Education Institutions, said government did not fulfill its promise.

"Even if we receive this money today, we are ready to resume work," he said. "We need equal treatment [as the teaching staff], since we go to the same supermarket with the lecturers and we also have children who need to access quality education."

He said it is unfair for government not to consider the non-teaching staff yet without them lecturers cannot do their work.

"Now all the places are closed and it's the non-teaching staff with the keys. Let the lectures enter those lecture rooms and teach students," he said sarcastically.

Police officers trying to calm down students affected by the strike. (Credit: Agnes Nantambi)

Meanwhile, the students also tried to draw the attention of the Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda who was attending a function at the main building but were block from accessing him.

This prompted the vice chancellor to call for an immediate meeting with the students to pave a way forward.

But the student leaders said the meeting had not been fruitful and were told to remain calm.

Kizito Ronald, who had come to pick his admission letter, said such strikes will deter students from wanting to join Makerere.

"Imagine I have travelled from far. We were told to come and pick the forms today but we are now welcomed by the strike. Why doesn't management sort itself out? We are tired of this at Makerere and we feel scared to join this university," he said.