The government will discuss the way forward as pertains the opening of Makerere University in a cabinet meeting slated for Wednesday to be chaired by the Prime Minister John Patrick Amama Mbabazi, according to Education minister Jessica Alupo.
Makerere University
This cabinet meeting is expected to determine if Makerere will open before meeting the demand of the striking staff for a pay rise.
Makerere staff two weeks back resolved to lay down their tools until the University gives them a salary double prompting the University Council, the institutions supreme decision making body to close Makerere indefinitely.
The closure followed failure of Council to secure money from government to bankroll the pay increment that would hike Makerere’s wage bill from sh5.5b to sh75b a month.
Coincidentally, the cabinet meeting falls on the day when the deadline issued by the government for Makerere University Council to open the institution elapses.
On August 14, Alupo had directed the Council to open the University by Wednesday with support of staff who are willing to work.
However, the Makerere Vice Chancellor John Ddumba Ssentamu yesterday stated that it is impossible for the University to open on Wednesday since it has to prepare for resumption of operation on top of having to strike a deal with the striking staff.
Louis Kakinda, the spokesperson of the general staff assembly noted that the university should not be rushed into premature opening.
“What is important is not the deadline but whether the University can function normally when it finally opens. There is no need of sweeping our problems under the carpet in a rushed opening because the pace at which the negotiations are moving on is giving us a renewed hope,” said Kakinda.
Kakinda further said that the current commitment of both staff and Council to the negotiation could yield to a deal between the two parties by Wednesday followed by a general assembly of the staff on Friday that could officially call off the staff’s strike.
“Owing to the rate at which talks are moving on, an agreement is likely to be reached on Wednesday which will pave way for a staff general assembly on Friday that will call off the strike in turn giving Council the opportunity to open the university,” reiterated Kakinda.
By Innocent Anguyo, The New Vision
