In a move poised to disrupt the upcoming graduation ceremony, members of the Makerere University Academic Staff Association (MUASA) are set to begin a strike today, January 15th, 2024, over lingering salary discrepancies. This decision comes as a culmination of years of frustration and unfulfilled promises regarding salary harmonization with other public universities.
MUASA chairperson, Dr. Robert Kakuru, expressed exasperation over the government’s continued inaction: “To date, this issue has not been addressed. We extended our deadline, promising to initiate industrial action on January 15th if the matter remains unresolved.”
Dr. Kakuru highlighted the stark differences in pay between Makerere staff and their counterparts with similar qualifications in other institutions. “Technicians, custodians, and various other positions at Makerere receive significantly lower salaries compared to their counterparts in other public universities. This disparity, which began around 2015, is the core of our grievance.”
Despite numerous appeals and discussions with stakeholders, including the government and university administration, the issue has remained unaddressed. Dr. Kakuru recounted the hopes raised by the Minister of Public Service’s guidance on harmonization last year, only to be dashed by the absence of necessary funding in the 2023-2024 budget.
Vice Chancellor Professor Barnabas Nawangwe acknowledges the legitimacy of the staff’s concerns: “We have consistently engaged both the government and Parliament on this matter. We urge for a swift resolution, as the disparity undeniably affects some of our staff.”
The impending strike casts a shadow over the highly anticipated 74th graduation ceremony scheduled for January 29th whether the industrial action proceeds and its potential impact on the ceremony remain to be seen.
