The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Government has allocated 12.8billion shillings for salary enhancement for staff in 11 public universities.
The allocation for the 2019/2020 is contained in the second budget call circular from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development.
This is partial fulfillment of the 2013 Presidential pledge to increase salaries of staff at public universities, with a professor earning 15 million shillings.
The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development said it was not possible to fulfill that pledge immediately and proposed a phased enhancement, which would be completed in five years.
For each of the five financial years, government had promised to pay 50 billion shillings and that would mean that by 2020, a professor would be paid 15million shillings.
Currently, a professor earns .9.5million shillings, less of Shs.5.5million target of 2020. This means that government would require about 200 billion shillings to fulfill this promise in the coming financial year.
Rev. Dr Grace Lubaale, the Chairperson of the Forum for Academic Staff of Public Universities -FASPU, says their position has been communicated to government through line ministries to ensure a Professor gets 15 million shillings in the next financial year as promised.
Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, the Makerere University Vice Chancellor observes that the allocations are positive following their engagements with government as Vice Chancellors of Public Universities.
“Amidst all this, Management, in conjunction with the Vice Chancellors of other Public Universities have continued to engage the relevant Government Ministries to find a sustainable solution to the matter of salary enhancement within the confines of the national economy as well as provision of funding by Government for research,” Prof. Nawangwe observes.
He says that government has for the first time made allocations at the early stage of budgeting without staff threatening to strike.
“I am glad to report that these efforts have begun to bear fruit. I hope that all stakeholders will work towards consolidating this renewed sign of goodwill by Government,” he said.
Professor Eli Katunguka-Rwakishaya the Kyambogo University Vice Chancellor says that given the failure by government to meet its targets, renewed negotiations need to commence to avoid disruptions.
“I think negotiations should start now so that some new targets are set. This will help universities to remain open,” Prof. Katunguka said.
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