Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has asked teachers not to be compromised by President Museveni’s ‘empty promises’ but instead go on with their industrial action.
John Kikonyogo, FDC deputy spokesperson also urged teachers to continue pressing on and disregard their leaders – under the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (Unatu) because they are traitors that Museveni uses to silence their demands.
“If Museveni promised to increase your salaries, let him fulfill his promises. Teachers should not trust their leaders because they are like Judas. Look at their former leader (James) Tweheyo, who is now at NRM secretariat. He betrayed them and now has a better good job. As FDC, we ask teachers turn up the pressure,” Kikonyogo said on Monday at FDC headquarters, Najjanankumbi.
Teachers under Unatu started a strike across the country on Monday, May 20 as one way of demanding a salary increment.
Their strike came following the completion of a 90-day ultimatum, following a letter on February 20, to ministries of Public Service, Finance and Education reminding them of a commitment they made last year to enhance their salaries in 2019/20 financial year.
Last week, the government through the ministry of Public Service confirmed that there was no money.
They had vowed not to enter class on the opening day of the second term across the country.
However, President Museveni on Sunday met their leaders and asked them to suspend their industrial action for the whole term and promised to meet them again in late July to brief them on the next course of action.
Museveni also appealed to them not to cause problems to the country but rather seek for equitable salary structures for all civil servants through the establishment of a harmonized salaries board to balance salaries of all civil servants.
However, according to FDC, this was a lie and a move to force them to work without fulfilling their promises.
“This month Members of Parliament increased their salaries because of inflation, forgetting the teacher because they also live in Uganda like MPs,” he said, adding that teachers not only need salaries but also houses.
“The government has abandoned you and even the little salary you get at times comes late,” he said.
During the meeting with Museveni, the President cautioned them to demand for salary rise as they also discuss the source of the national income where revenue that generates salaries comes from.
