Makerere dons clash over stipend
May 08, 2011
MAKERERE university lecturers, administrative and support staff have clashed over unpaid allowances. On top of the monthly gross salary, Makerere’s administrative and teaching staff are entitled to a top-up allowance.
By Vision Reporter
MAKERERE university lecturers, administrative and support staff have clashed over unpaid allowances. On top of the monthly gross salary, Makerere’s administrative and teaching staff are entitled to a top-up allowance.
The allowance, which was passed in 2005 by the university council, the institution’s topmost decision-making organ, is a reward for handling evening programmes.
An analysis New Vision conducted a few years ago indicated that the vice-chancellor, Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba, was entitled to sh3.8m top-up allowance per month, his deputy sh3.7m, the university secretary sh3.4m, a senior lecturer (PhD holder) sh3.4m and a lecturer sh3m.
However, accusing the university management of inequitable payment of the allowances, the staff threatened to lay down tools if the matter is not resolved by the start of the next financial year in July.
They want the allowances rationalised and paid in time. The resolution was passed during a staff general assembly at the university main hall on Friday.
“Some people receive allowances every month, while others have not received for over a year. We want this to stop,†said Louis Kakinda, the spokesperson of the lecturers’ association (MUASA).
Tempers flared when it emerged that some junior staff were being paid higher allowances than their seniors. A case was cited in the university’s public relations unit and the school of computing.
The MUASA chairperson, Dr. Tanga Odoi, said junior staff receive over sh7m, while their managers earn sh300,000. “We want uniformity; we may not be equal, but we want fairness,†Tanga stated.
The lecturers were also angered by the university’s reluctance to clear over sh82.2m salary arrears for 18 library staff since 2006.
The money accumulated between July and December 2006 when the university increased salaries for library staff.
Some members suggested passing a vote of no-confidence in Baryamureeba, accusing him of undermining staff and “misusing his powersâ€.
However, Tanga and the MUASA executive overruled them. They instead resolved that the university’s Catholic and Anglican chaplains and the Muslim chief Khadi should counsel the vice-chancellor.
MAKERERE university lecturers, administrative and support staff have clashed over unpaid allowances. On top of the monthly gross salary, Makerere’s administrative and teaching staff are entitled to a top-up allowance.
The allowance, which was passed in 2005 by the university council, the institution’s topmost decision-making organ, is a reward for handling evening programmes.
An analysis New Vision conducted a few years ago indicated that the vice-chancellor, Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba, was entitled to sh3.8m top-up allowance per month, his deputy sh3.7m, the university secretary sh3.4m, a senior lecturer (PhD holder) sh3.4m and a lecturer sh3m.
However, accusing the university management of inequitable payment of the allowances, the staff threatened to lay down tools if the matter is not resolved by the start of the next financial year in July.
They want the allowances rationalised and paid in time. The resolution was passed during a staff general assembly at the university main hall on Friday.
“Some people receive allowances every month, while others have not received for over a year. We want this to stop,†said Louis Kakinda, the spokesperson of the lecturers’ association (MUASA).
Tempers flared when it emerged that some junior staff were being paid higher allowances than their seniors. A case was cited in the university’s public relations unit and the school of computing.
The MUASA chairperson, Dr. Tanga Odoi, said junior staff receive over sh7m, while their managers earn sh300,000. “We want uniformity; we may not be equal, but we want fairness,†Tanga stated.
The lecturers were also angered by the university’s reluctance to clear over sh82.2m salary arrears for 18 library staff since 2006.
The money accumulated between July and December 2006 when the university increased salaries for library staff.
Some members suggested passing a vote of no-confidence in Baryamureeba, accusing him of undermining staff and “misusing his powersâ€.
However, Tanga and the MUASA executive overruled them. They instead resolved that the university’s Catholic and Anglican chaplains and the Muslim chief Khadi should counsel the vice-chancellor.