Government Ofwono Opondo Intimidates To Walkout Of The Government

Arts Teachers Are Only Striking Because Of ‘Nugu’ – Ofwono Opondo

Posted by: Andre Reagan in Uganda news July 1, 2022

The Government spokesperson Mr Ofwono Opondo has become the latest government official to attack the striking teachers especially those teaching arts.

Opondo while appearing on the NBS Frontline said that these are only striking because of ‘nugu’ (jealousy).

It should be recalled that government a while ago increased the salaries of science teachers by over 300% than their arts counterparts. An arrangement had been in place since 2012 with the science teachers earning 30% more than the Arts teachers.

However, this time round Arts teachers found this increment unreasonable. They demanded the same hence declaring an industrial strike. And according to Opondo, this strike is not a genuine one.

It’s rather a one fueled by jealousy with these arts teachers coming at government. They feel their colleagues can’t earn more when they mark the same books in staff rooms.

“I think what provoked the arts teachers to strike is “nugu”. I suspect their strike is being pushed by the “how dare you” attitude when we mark the same books in the staffroom,” Opondo said.

Further, he said that government has for the last 30 years been reviewing salaries of public servants. And not anywhere has uniformity ever been applied.

He cited the case of public universities on how the salary increment was carried out over time.

The UNATU general secretary Filbert Baguma clarified and said that the strike is still ongoing. He said that the union received two letters from both the Minister and another from the Permanent secretary.

The letter from the Ministry said that the teachers will be paid in the medium term. And according to Filbert Baguma, he and the teachers don’t know what this means. They will have to get back to the PS for clarity on medium-term.

UNATU has also been advised to always step up through other campaigns. And not only show up when there are strike campaigns. This will help it to be noticed and felt by the government and other stakeholders in the long-term.

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