President Yoweri Museveni has yet again re-echoed the need to pay scientists well.
During his address at the National Teachers Day at the Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, the President said “We should not debate this”
“All teachers should know this, I am a person of literature and history and I am the one leading the crusade of having science-oriented education because that is what life really hinges on for the last 4.5million years,” he said, adding, “We should not debate this; arts have a role but for a society to survive, it must not lag behind in science and technology. Do not waste our time with off-the-point arguments. I can quote for you Shakespeare or Julius Caesar, what will it help with curing Covid-19?”
Therefore, he said, “no one should obstruct our strategy of paying scientists well because we need them ‘most’. We want to increase the salary of everyone but if we do not have enough money why not start with those that are most needed- the scientists!?”
UNATU, Museveni disagree
Meanwhile, the Uganda National Teachers Union-UNATU on Tuesday disagreed with President Museveni on the government’s plan to increase the remuneration of science teachers.
Speaking at the National Teachers Day celebrations at Kololo ceremonial grounds, Filbert Baguma, the UNATU general secretary noted that the idea of preferring science teachers is wrong and a sign of discrimination among the teachers and other government workers who are not scientists.
He argued that if the government insists on the payment of a basic salary of four million shillings for science teachers without giving any increment to other teachers, it will put the resumption of teaching in jeopardy.
Baguma said that UNATU is not against the proposed increment, but wants all graduate teachers to benefit from the increment.
Baguma says that the increasing salaries of science teachers came at a time when the government has failed to honour its pledge to enhance all teachers salaries as agreed upon in the collective bargain agreement that had been signed in 2018.
Baguma further reminded the President about a pledge he made during the 2020 international teachers’ day celebrations when he promised to establish a salary review commission.
However, Museveni said that the government will not backtrack on the decision.
Museveni said that the government was focused on developing Uganda using a science-led development strategy.
Museveni asked UNATU officials not to resist his efforts or put him under pressure after knowing that the government is prioritizing scientists first to encourage Science and Technology Innovation.
Museveni however said that he appreciates the importance and contribution of arts and humanities. He said that due to limited resources, the government cannot give a pay rise for all teachers.
Additional text adopted from The Independent