Written By |
Students of Duhaga Secondary in Hoima, one of the schools whose teachers have gone on strike over unpaid wages. File Photo
Search
Hoima City Council has assured striking secondary school teachers that their arrears will be paid and urged them to resume teaching.
Over 250 secondary school teachers in five schools -- Kitara, Bwiikya, Duhaga, St Andrea and Buhanika secondary schools had gone without pay since last year.
During a meeting with secondary school teachers in Hoima city on Tuesday, the Resident City Commissioner, Badru Mugabi, told the striking teachers that the government was addressing their concerns.
Mugabi said according to the latest release, the Government has sent over sh650m to pay the arrears of the striking teachers. He said some teachers had already received their pay and asked them to remain calm.
“The Government has already received funds to pay teachers who haven’t been paid for some time and some have been paid for the month of April,” Mugabi said.
Benard Atiku, a teacher at Duhaga Secondary School in Hoima West Division, accused the Hoima city town clerk of intimidating teachers who go to their offices to inquire about their salaries.
Some of the affected teacher’s names were missing from the payroll yet they were recruited last year. The teachers claim that they have repeatedly engaged the town clerk to establish where the problem is, in vain.
Last month, the teachers’ leaders stormed the city council offices to demand payment of their salary arrears.
“Since last year, many of our colleagues have not been paid yet they have been teaching. Other government workers are being paid, why not teachers?” Atiku asked.
Beatrice Kyokwasire, one of the affected teachers from Bwiikya Secondary School in Hoima East Division, said the delayed payment of their salaries is a sign that the Government does not care about secondary school teachers. Kyokwasire asked the responsible people in the city to ensure that their salaries are paid if they are to improve the standard of education in the city.
Robert Sebayonzi, another affected teacher from Biikya Secondary School said some of them are demanding a year’s salary.
“We also have families to look after and by not paying us, they are denying our families services like education and health. Most of our children are still at home due to lack of school fees yet we are busy teaching,” Sebayonzi said.
He said they decided to storm the council offices because the concerned authorities have been dodging them.
“Whenever we ask for explanations, nobody comes out to address us. Now, we have decided to leave the classrooms,” Sebayonzi said.
Earlier, there was drama at the city council premises when Charles Kabiri, the deputy town clerk, attempted to block the media from the meeting where teachers aired out their concerns.
Brain Kaboyo, the Hoima city mayor, confirmed the delayed payment of the teachers, especially for secondary schools, and attributed the problem to inadequate funding and transitional challenges.
“We have held a meeting with the affected teachers and we are handling the problem together with the relevant ministries. What I can assure them is that they will be paid all their money and let them go back to work,” he said.
