Makerere calm, staff to miss salaries

The Makerere University Vice Chancellor Prof. Venancius Baryamureeba says the management is doing everything possible to ensure that it opens soon.

The university was closed last week as the lecturers insisted on keeping on with their strike, as they demand for payment of close to 17 billion shillings pension arrears from the National Insurance Corporation.

Baryamureba says meetings are to be held with the university teaching and non-teaching staff, with a view of addressing their grievances.

He however notes that the management will not rush to open the university and will wait until all pending issues have been addressed.

The University campus however remained calm today with notable police presence.

Relatedly,

The University staff will not be receiving any salaries for September.

Prof Baryamureeba says that since the students are not in session and majority had not paid their tuition fees, the university is not able to cover its contribution to the payroll.

The University contributes 2.2 billion shillings which is added to the 2.6 billion from government.

Meanwhile,

The Makerere University Local Council V Councilor Benard Luyiga has been arrested together with 4 others.

This is after they insisted on holding a press conference at the University guild canteen, despite being warned by the police against the same.

The University Officer in charge of the police Caesar Tusingwire says Luyiga and colleagues face charges of inciting violence.

Now the Vice Chancellor Prof Venansius Baryamureeba is asking government to take up the whole responsibility of paying staff fully.

Story by Ben Jumbe

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