By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
NATIONAL
UNATU Secretary General, Filbert Baguma has fired back at the threats by the minister public service, Hon. Muruli Mukasa, giving teachers a seven-day ultimatum to return to class or face dismissal.
“I have heard that the minister held a press briefing where he purportedly gave a seven day ultimatum to teachers to go back to calls, or else they will be taken as absent without official leave,” Baguma said, describing Minister’s remarks as intimidation and diversionary.
On Thursday, the nationwide teachers strike entered the 18th day (app. 3 weeks) demanding for salary enhancement and equal pay between science and arts teachers. Speaking to the media, minister Muruli appealed to teachers to resume duty immediately, warning that failure to comply within one week will be treated as abscondment of duty.
“Once again, I am appealing to the teachers to call off the industrial strike and resume duty immediately. Let me add, one week, not beyond one week from today. If you don’t, you will be regarded as victims of the industrial strike,” Mukasa said.
The minister also directed chief administrative officers, district and city education officers, and resident district commissioners to monitor compliance and report attendance levels in schools countrywide.
However, the remarks were outrightly rejected by the teachers, claiming that government has dragged its feet for three years without honouring its commitments made to teachers.
“I want to remind the minister that government as the employer knows where the teachers are. Therefore, there is no reason why he should waste his time intimidating and threatening the teachers,” Baguma said.
“There’s no amount of intimidation he is going to use to make the teachers go back to class without him answering their call,” Baguma stressed, urging teachers to remain firm and stay home until their demands are addressed.
This has deepened the stand-off between government and striking teachers has deepened as UNATU insists the industrial action will continue until government provides clear answers on salary harmonisation and improved welfare. The teachers’ strike has also left millions of learners stranded, especially as Senior Four candidates who are counting down days to sit for their final UCE exams.
