Uganda National Teachers’ Union (Unatu) secretary general Filbert Bates Baguma has dared those claiming that he and fellow union leaders pocketed billions of Shillings in bribes to betray striking secondary school arts and primary school teachers by suspending their industrial action without any deal.
While he had categorically denied ever chewing any bribe money, the bribery allegations have persisted, making Baguma to come out and assure the union’s members (teachers) that their leaders have not been compromised and that they are not about to give up nor betray the cause for a fair salary enhancement for all teachers across board.
The Unatu secretary general says that those vending the allegations are seeking to fulfill their diversionary agenda and to damage the image of the union.
Baguma has now dared anyone with evidence to prove these claims to present it or shut up.
“It should also be on record that all claims that the leadership of the Union were bribed are false and mere fabrications by detractors who wish to ruin the good reputation of UNATU and divert us from our cause. These are baseless lies that the members of UNATU should disregard,” said Baguma.
“We also hereby challenge all those peddling lies to openly provide AUTHENTIC as opposed to cleverly-constructed evidence.”
A few hours after Unatu announced the end of the arts teachers’ strike following a meeting with Museveni and his wife Janet, a number of angry teachers accused Baguma and his group of betraying them by pocketing billions in bribes to suspend the industrial action without any deal. (Read Story Here).
MORE STORIES ON OUR COVERAGE OF ARTS TEACHERS’ STRIKE & SALARY INCREMENT CIRCUS
MORE ON SCIENCE TEACHERS’ SALARY INCREMENT
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).
