SALARY INCREMENT CIRCUS: Nurses, Midwives Announce Date for Their Strike

Ugandan nurses and midwives have put government on notice over salary increment, saying they will lay down their tools if government does not offer them reliable proof that their salaries will be increased in the next financial year which begins in July 2022.

Through their umbrella body, Uganda Nurses and Midwifes Union (UNMU), these health workers want government to also prioritize them like all their counterparts in the health sector.

Last week, information minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi told striking teachers that government would increase salaries of all scientists in the 2022-2023 financial year as had been promised by President Museveni in a directive issued a few years ago.

But the nurses and midwives say their strike will go on as planned this month. Expected to begin on May 26, the strike is now 10 days away and is expected to paralyze service delivery across the country.

Speaking during an event held in Kamuli District to celebrate International Nurses Day last week, UNMU President Justus Cherop told Public Service Minister Wilson Muruli Mukasa, who was in attendance as President Museveni’s representative, that the nurses and midwives will go on strike if government does not come out and assure them that their salaries will be increased starting July 2022.

“We are not about to get tired of demanding our rights and salary enhancement as per the collective bargain agreement, and please take notice that our industrial action scheduled on May 26 is on,” Cherop told Minister Muruli.

When it was his time to speak, the minister responded to Cherop: “We have heard the many issues from the nursing fraternity, and I can tell you that you have no better advocate than President Museveni himself who has been giving directives and making sure the entire health service gets salary enhancement.”

Recently, Public Service Ministry Permanent Secretary Catherine Bitarakwate Musingwiire reportedly said that all health workers – including morgue attendants – will get a pay raise by sharing a Shs400bn package. (Read Story Here).

The budget allocation for salary enhancement is expected to rise after Museveni’s Cabinet recently resolved that science teachers should be included on the list of those who should get pay raise, with each science teacher getting Shs4m per month starting July 2022. (Read Story Here).

MORE ON SALARY INCREMENT CIRCUS

In order to improve service delivery and end the challenge of strikes over low pay, President Museveni’s government has proposed huge salary increments for teachers, doctors and other employees starting July 2022. (Read Story Here)

The proposed increments have left many people wondering if government will really fulfill this pledge and increase salaries by very high amounts.

For example, opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye has argued that the promise of salary increment is just ‘another lie.’ (Read Story Here).

Finance Minister Matia Kasaija recently said the money for increasing teachers’, doctors’ and other civil servants’ salaries was available. (Read Story Here).

In August 2021, cabinet approved salary increment for teachers, doctors and other health workers. (Read Story Here).

See the salary structure that had been proposed for the current financial year here.

UPDATED LIST: See Salary Structure for All Government Workers

Meanwhile, an NRM MP has angered teachers after telling them they are too poor to go on strike. (Read Story Here).

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