Museveni warns lecturers on strike
Oct 29, 2004
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has warned lecturers against striking over delayed salary increment, saying it would be counter-productive.
By Henry Mukasa
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has warned lecturers against striking over delayed salary increment, saying it would be counter-productive.
Museveni, who was meeting lecturers from public universities at the Kampala International Conference Centre on Thursday evening, said to preach to him the need to raise pay for the dons was “flogging a dead horse.â€
Museveni, who said he fought dictators to create a conducive environment for debate, scoffed at suggestions that he takes up a UN job on retirement.
“That is the most despising thing I have heard. Work for united what? If I don’t work for my country or Africa I go to Rwakitura. That me, a general of the army work for United what.... and talk about AIDS. If you want me to talk about AIDS, I will be at Rwakitura,†Museveni said.
“I intend to do silk farming and grow fruits for export. Then you invite me I give you a lecture and come back.â€
Museveni, who was responding to concerns of the lecturers read out by Makerere University Academic Staff Association (MUASA) chairman, Dr Mushambi Twesigomwe, urged the academics to endure an eight-month wait until the next budget in July. The public universities are Makerere, Kyambogo, Gulu, Mbarara, and Makerere University Business School.
Mushambi cited three concerns: the gap between what the Government offered the lecturers this financial year and what was agreed upon, preferential treatment between sciences and humanities and a salary scale structure between academic staff and administrators.
The Government only implemented 16% of the pay raise agreed upon to be effected in two financial years. A professor earning sh1.8m for example was supposed to move to sh2.8m. The dons were wary that it was inconceivable to get their 84% next year.
The MUASA boss also said academic staff should be remunerated better than support staff (administrators) because they are the core, that is, teach, research and publish.
Mushambi said science lecturers and those for humanities should be at par provided they have similar qualifications.
“We are like grasshoppers in a calabash, eating themselves when their fate is the same: to be eaten,†Mushambi said.
“The universities are no longer attractive. If we think greatly about education, we should put in more resources. To be a lecturer you need a PhD. Departments advertise and no one applies because no one wants with his PhD, to walk with torn shoes.â€
“We have reached a situation where our lecturers go to teach in secondary school. We have departments which are almost closing down because they are no longer attractive. I don’t see a doctor doing research on an empty stomach. That’s dangerous to standards,†Mushambi said.
Museveni said, “I am on your side. Nobody should underestimate my decision. Don’t be pessimistic. Be of good cheer. Don’t spread despondency among academic staff. Next time it will be done,†Museveni said.
“But please, don’t go on strike. That one is counter productive because you don’t solve any problem. Next financial year is not very far. We shall get the 84%. Don’t paralyse the universities,†he said.
He said, “Equating the academicians and administrators is wrong. Buying posho and beans are support activities. I don’t know what we need to do to publicise this?†he said. Museveni said science lecturers should have enkizo (preference) over those of arts because science was strategic to development.
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has warned lecturers against striking over delayed salary increment, saying it would be counter-productive.
Museveni, who was meeting lecturers from public universities at the Kampala International Conference Centre on Thursday evening, said to preach to him the need to raise pay for the dons was “flogging a dead horse.â€
Museveni, who said he fought dictators to create a conducive environment for debate, scoffed at suggestions that he takes up a UN job on retirement.
“That is the most despising thing I have heard. Work for united what? If I don’t work for my country or Africa I go to Rwakitura. That me, a general of the army work for United what.... and talk about AIDS. If you want me to talk about AIDS, I will be at Rwakitura,†Museveni said.
“I intend to do silk farming and grow fruits for export. Then you invite me I give you a lecture and come back.â€
Museveni, who was responding to concerns of the lecturers read out by Makerere University Academic Staff Association (MUASA) chairman, Dr Mushambi Twesigomwe, urged the academics to endure an eight-month wait until the next budget in July. The public universities are Makerere, Kyambogo, Gulu, Mbarara, and Makerere University Business School.
Mushambi cited three concerns: the gap between what the Government offered the lecturers this financial year and what was agreed upon, preferential treatment between sciences and humanities and a salary scale structure between academic staff and administrators.
The Government only implemented 16% of the pay raise agreed upon to be effected in two financial years. A professor earning sh1.8m for example was supposed to move to sh2.8m. The dons were wary that it was inconceivable to get their 84% next year.
The MUASA boss also said academic staff should be remunerated better than support staff (administrators) because they are the core, that is, teach, research and publish.
Mushambi said science lecturers and those for humanities should be at par provided they have similar qualifications.
“We are like grasshoppers in a calabash, eating themselves when their fate is the same: to be eaten,†Mushambi said.
“The universities are no longer attractive. If we think greatly about education, we should put in more resources. To be a lecturer you need a PhD. Departments advertise and no one applies because no one wants with his PhD, to walk with torn shoes.â€
“We have reached a situation where our lecturers go to teach in secondary school. We have departments which are almost closing down because they are no longer attractive. I don’t see a doctor doing research on an empty stomach. That’s dangerous to standards,†Mushambi said.
Museveni said, “I am on your side. Nobody should underestimate my decision. Don’t be pessimistic. Be of good cheer. Don’t spread despondency among academic staff. Next time it will be done,†Museveni said.
“But please, don’t go on strike. That one is counter productive because you don’t solve any problem. Next financial year is not very far. We shall get the 84%. Don’t paralyse the universities,†he said.
He said, “Equating the academicians and administrators is wrong. Buying posho and beans are support activities. I don’t know what we need to do to publicise this?†he said. Museveni said science lecturers should have enkizo (preference) over those of arts because science was strategic to development.