The afternoon meeting between the striking teacher’s leadership and the Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda has not yielded the much needed positive results.
During the meeting which sources have described as a heated one, the striking teacher’s executive leaders led by Margaret Rwobushaja also the chairperson of UNATU have shamelessly told the prime minister that unless their demands are sorted there shall be no teaching in schools.
The closed door meeting has been held at the office of the president in Kampala just next to parliament building also attended by the chairman general of the National Origination of Trade Unions (NOTU) Asha Owere and the education minister Jessica Alupo whom the teachers accuse of mishandling 25Bn shillings meant for their SACCO.
Speaking to Journalists after the closed door meeting with the Prime Minister UNATU chairperson Margaret Rwobushaija has told us that no agreement has been reached yet during the meeting and the sit down strike continues.
“Not much has been reached yet, though the prime minister sounds very cunning and apologetic but we shall not settle for less, we want our money as promised” says Rwobushaija.
The always cheerful prime minister, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda has also told the press after the meeting that the teachers should be kind to the pupils and resume work because Gov’t doesn’t have the money to affect the teacher’s demands.
“The discussions have been health but we ask the teachers to go back and teach, in the financial year 2016/17 I guarantee that Government will have the money” explains Rugunda.
However Rwbushaija insists that the strike is still on. We have agreed to meet the prime minister gain on Thursday in a meeting which shall be attended by all the district and regional chairperson to forge away forward.
She has however revealed that their legal team is studying the threats being meted at the striking teachers by Residential district commissioners (RDC’s) in an attempt to push teachers back to class.
“we shall sue the RDC’s, the teachers strike is a legal move provided by our constitution, labour unions act, and the international labour organizations convention to which Uganda is a signatory to.
The teacher’s industrial action has generally paralyzed academics across the country, only time can tell how far this can be upheld.
By Joshua Mutale.