By Spy Reporter
Kampala, Uganda:Things are not good at all at Makerere University and as you read this, the lecturers and nonteaching staff have staged a thunderous strike, which they threaten will continue unless Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe relents on his punitive measures.
The lecturers claim that Nawangwe is using highhanded methods to threaten, reprimand, punish and silence anyone who comes up to mention anything about their grievances. So far, top dons who include Dr. Dr. Muhwezi Kamunyu have been fired by Nawangwe from the University and many are said to be follow suit very soon. This punitive management style has sparked off disagreements between Nawangwe and the MUK dons, which has pushed them to resorting to industrial action. The lecturers have since issued a press statement which they shared to all MUK staff and on social media, calling upon all their colleagues to join the strike. The statement reads thus; “ ANNOUNCEMENT OF STRIKE BY THE JOINT MAKERERE UNIVERSITY STAFF ASSOCIATIONS-MUASA, MASA and NUEI. (Link)
At a joint meeting of the executives of the three Makerere University Staff associations held on 18th January 2019, it was unanimously resolved to;
REAFFIRM the resolution on the withdrawal of labour with effect from midnight 18th January 2019 until all our demands are met, as per the resolutions of the joint Emergency General Assembly of 11th January 2019 held in the Main Hall, Makerere University. Hospital, Security and Salaries staff will continue to serve.
DENOUNCE in the strongest terms possible the suspension of another Association leader, Dr. Deus Muhwezi Kamunyu, the MUASA Chairperson, and the deployment of soldiers to deny him access to his home on Main Campus and the unconscionable harassment of his family,, and to demand for the unconditional lifting of this arbitrary suspension with immediate effect, and the removal of the soldiers illegally deployed at his home; and
ENGAGE the services of Advocate Isaac Ssemakadde of the Centre for Legal Aid to provide standby legal counsel to all University Staff affected or threatened by the continued heavy-handedness, intimidation, victimization and abuse of power by the University Management, under the Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, and to assist the Association leaders to amplify staff concerns as per the resolutions of the Joint Emergency General Assembly of 11th January 2019…”
According to the statement the strike is already in effect and will continue until the either lecturers resolve to call it off or reach an agreement with Nawangwe.
