Makerere lecturers confused over strike

Lecturers discussing whether to call off the strike or not during the Makerere University Academic Staff Association (MUASA) assembly meeting. Photo by Mary Kansiime     

Makerere University academic staff association (MUASA) executive members on Thursday parted ways on whether to call off the strike or continue as two members of raged over the idea.

The scuffle erupted between MUASA vice-chairperson Gilbert Gumoshabe and MUASA spokesperson Dr. Deus Muhwezi during lecturers general assembly held at Makerere University.

In a hot debate overwhelmingly attended, lecturers were discussing the road to end the strike, as Gumoshabe accused Muhwezi of partiality, lack of patriotism over Makerere closure and mobilising fellow lecturers to remain on strike.

Due to the scuffle, the meeting ended prematurely after MUASA legal adviser Prof. Jean Barya advised:  "As a legal adviser, it's not proper for us to discuss these resolutions because they do not address any of our concerns. Let the council sit again and concretise these resolutions and that's when we shall meet again and vote whether to call off the strike or continue."

MUASA general assembly was convened to discuss Council's resolutions reached at, during a meeting with MUASA executive on Tuesday at the university where council resolved to pay November salary and one month of incentive arrears immediately as the rest of the payment is done before June 30.

Makerere University was indefinitely closed on November 1, to guarantee safety of persons and property.

This was due to a long standoff between lecturers and management that had sucked in the students, over non-payment of incentive arrears accruing to over sh54.6bn.