BY MATHIUS KAHUNGU
Primary teachers in Kasese district have maintained their industrial action despite an order by the government directing them to go back to their respective places of work or else risk losing their jobs.
On September 15, schools countrywide opened their doors for a third term but in Kasese district, teachers from the government grant-aided primary schools like their counterparts from other districts declined to report for duty to teach the learners.
A day after, the government through her ministries of Public Service, Education and Sports, Gender, Labour and Social Development met the leadership of UNATU but no breakthrough was reached.
On Thursday last week, the Minister of Public Service, Hon. Wilson Muruli Mukasa stressed that the continued absence of teachers from duty would tantamount to self -dismissal. According to him, should they fail to return to class, it would mean that they were no longer interested in the job and action would be taken to fill their gaps.
In a telephone interview with Messiah Radio today morning, the Kasese Municipality Chairperson for the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU), Josha Bwambale Kiregheya, called upon the teachers not to be shaken by what he termed as threats, encouraging them to maintain the industrial action until further notice.
He described their industrial action as lawful since it was allegedly in line with the constitution of the Republic of Uganda, asking his fellow teachers to remain at their homes as they wait for the formal communication from the union.
ENDS