Staff at Lira University Teaching Hospital have commenced a strike against the university, alleging disparities in salaries.
The strike, which began on Monday, has resulted in only essential departments operating with minimal staff levels at the Teaching Hospital, which caters to both the university and the broader community.
Members of the protesting staff, organized under the National Union of Educational Institutions (NUEI) – Lira University branch, have pointed to the university’s failure to implement a directive from the Ministry of Public Service regarding salary adjustments. Approximately 300 staff members, under various umbrella bodies, have been affected by these disparities.
For example, a nurse with a diploma currently receiving a net salary of 1.44 million Shillings, with a gross of 2.09 million Shillings, would, under the revised salary structure, receive a net salary of 2.3 million Shillings from a gross pay of 3.47 million Shillings.
The dispute dates back to September 2022 when public universities were instructed to harmonize their salary structures across faculties and departments.
Phyllis Ocwa, the Lira Branch Secretary of NUEI and a radiographer at the university hospital, expressed frustration over failed attempts to engage with the administration. Ocwa emphasized the union’s internal efforts to resolve the matter and highlighted the negative impact on their performance due to lack of accommodation by the university.
In October 2023, the NUEI-Lira University branch convened a general assembly, resolving to issue a 60-day notice of industrial action, demanding new appointment letters aligning with the updated structure and salaries effective July 1, 2023.
In response, the university’s vice chancellor, Prof. Jasper Ogwal-Okeng, acknowledged receipt of the strike notice, specifying that the strikers are “hospital staff with Diploma qualifications only.” The statement emphasized that the strike lacked sufficient notice and due process and assured that the hospital was operating normally with other willing diploma staff.
The statement concluded by urging all staff of Lira University Teaching Hospital to report to duty, as the matters were being addressed with the Ministry of Public Service.
