Nurses Go On Strike Over Shs70.5 Billion Lunch Allowances

Posted by: lukwago J in Uganda news May 4, 2021

Uganda nurses and midwives will effective Wednesday May 5, 2021 go on an emergency strike over government non payment of shs70.5b lunch allowance.

Government promised to pay medical officers this financial year but has failed fulfill it’s promise.

The money is supposed to benefit over 18,000 nurses and nursing Assistants.

Uganda Nurses and Midwives Union (UNMU) President Mr Justus Cherop Kiplangat announced at their Mulago head offices that they have been taken for granted for long and it was time for action.

He said the decision follows attempts to deliver their petition to the Speaker of Uganda Parliament Rt Hon Rebecca Kadaga on vain.

“We have been told by Finance Committee that our shs70.5 billion lunch allowances is not a funded periority” said Mr Cherop.

The medical officers had earlier planned to go on a national – wide strike in January 2021 but were convinced to suspend their planned action after government said it had earmarked sh 70.5b for them.

Cherop said since government has indicated non – funded priority to pay nurses sh70.5b, they have no option but go on an emergency strike.

The national – wide strike is expected to paralyze the health sector that is struggling to cope with the Covid-19 pandemic now ravaging the country.

According to sources, nurses planned annual General meeting has forth been postponed for elections.

In separate news previously published by NEWSLEXPOINT.com, Makerere University Business School (MUBS) lecturers declared a sit down strike over their salaries that are pending. The strike came a week towards the reopening of the university meaning that the lecturers were not meant to do their jobs if salaries were not paid.

The MUBS lecturers declared the strike during a press conference held on Sunday. During the conference, they called upon students to not report to the institution expected to open on 15 October.

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