Rukungiri, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Arts lecturers in Rukungiri District have staged a peaceable remark worrying wage equity with science lecturers.
The demonstration, organized below their umbrella body, the Expert Human Lecturers Union (UPHTU), began on June 16 at Riverside Resort. The lecturers gathered for a gathering sooner than marching via the metropolis chanting slogans savor “No cash, no class” and showing placards that be taught “We prefer the manager to honor its 2019 agreement,” “Article 40 commands you to pay us,” and “No cash, no vote—humanities topic.”
Their remark follows the manager’s decision to grab salaries of science lecturers to sh4million, while excluding for arts lecturers and these in indispensable colleges. In response, an estimated 120,000 arts lecturers at some stage within the nation have laid down their tools in remark of what they snort as discriminatory wage enhancement.
The lecturers are worrying a rise of their newest pay from sh620,000 to sh4 million to match what science lecturers catch. They argue that the manager dedicated to this adjustment in a 2019 agreement, with implementation promised within the 2025/2026 monetary year, yet no steps have been taken toward pleasant that pledge.
All the procedure via a press briefing at the Riverside Resort in Rukungiri Municipality, the lecturers accused the manager of marginalizing arts educators. They mentioned it turned into once as if the manager anticipated them to “exhaust grass savor goats and sheep” while favoring science lecturers. Fred Turamyomwe, the UPHTU coordinator for Rukungiri District, criticized the manager for consistently promising pay raises with out allocating a single coin for arts lecturers.
“The executive launched cash, however the Ministry of Public Carrier excluded arts lecturers from the abet and diverted the funds,” mentioned Mr. Turamyomwe. “Even within the not too lengthy within the past be taught nationwide budget, we have been disregarded. So we’re asserting, “No cash, no instructing—let science lecturers stop our work.”
Kizza Elias, the union’s deputy coordinator within the district, echoed the frustration. He pointed out that arts and science lecturers get linked roles and support linked abilities, yet most productive science lecturers catch wage enhancements. “The executive promised to elongate our salaries in phases, however we now have waited lengthy ample,” mentioned Kizza. “We’ve been affected person, however now ample is ample. We’re on strike, and we is just not going to return to class till the manager resolves our field.”
He emphasised that nearly all efficient the manager can discontinue the strike. “It is a ways not any longer in our hands to prevent this strike—it’s miles as much as our employer,” he added. Angela Boonabana, an English trainer at St. Gerald’s Secondary Faculty Nyakibale, expressed her disappointment, citing rising disrespect from college students and colleagues who now regard arts subjects as less indispensable.
“Science lecturers assemble over UGX 4 million while we assemble not as much as UGX 620,000,” Ms. Boonabana mentioned. “This discrimination is demoralizing.” Esau Isingoma, a trainer at Immaculate Heart Ladies’ Faculty Nyakibale, emphasised that arts and science lecturers fragment the the same workloads, use the the same public services, and educate within the the same colleges, yet assemble vastly diverse salaries.
“Here’s unfair. I support colleagues to boycott all academic duties—instructing, exam environment, and invigilation—till the manager addresses the wage disparities,” mentioned Isingoma.
Sophia Busingye, an English trainer at Nyakagyeme Secondary Faculty, reiterated the remark’s central slogans: “No cash, no class,” “The executive must honor its 2019 agreement,” “Article 40 commands you to pay us,” and “The humanities topic.”
She accused the Ministry of Education of sidelining arts lecturers and called on all humanities educators to terminate dwelling till their demands are met. As of this day, the strike has entered its 12th day, with subjects equivalent to non secular education, history, English, alternate review, and shining artwork left untaught. Of us and college administrators are rising more and more alive to as newcomers remain stranded and tutorial development stalls.
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