How prosecutors voted before giving government 14 days to address grievances or strike

By Watchdog reporter

Last Friday, Prosecutors under their umbrella body Uganda Association of Prosecutors (UAP) resolved to carry out an industry action inform of a strike after conducting a ballot vote following the unsolved grievances.

The prosecutor who held an extra-ordinary general Assembly at Imperial Royale Hotel conducted a ballot vote to decide whether to carry out an industrial action in form of a strike or in short of strike.

The secret ballot vote was conducted by the independent overseers from Uganda Law Society and Uganda Judicial officers Association.

The results were as follows; 224 voted in favour of industrial action in form of a strike, two voted against the strike whereas 11 were invalid votes.

The Assembly further mandated UAP Executive to negotiate with government 165 voted in favour whereas 44 were against. There was one invalid vote and 13 undecided voters.

According to David Baxter Bakibinga, president of UAP, It is more than five years since they raised their voices against pitiable remunerations, non-wage benefits including non-practicing allowances, research allowance, professional attire, risk allowances, an Office of Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) enabling law and taxation of their mearge pay whereas other core JLOS institutions  such as judiciary , police and Prisons are not.

“We want government to increase our salary whereby the lowest paid will be receiving shs9m and our director should be able to take home shs40m,” said Bakibinga.

The prosecutors gave their employer 14 days to look into their matter and come out with a positive response; short of that they will proceed with their indefinite strike.

“The employer is notified that if prosecutors’ grievances are not addressed within 14 days from the date of service, the prosecutors will go on an indefinite strike,” UAP stated.

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