The government has allocated a total of Shs61,137,083,690 to harmonise salaries in 12 public universities for the upcoming Financial Year 2024/2025.
According to a letter dated April 3 from the Ministry of Public Service, addressed to university secretaries of public universities, Mr Godfrey Kaima, the undersecretary to the ministry’s permanent secretary, confirmed the allocation.
The funds are set to be released in the next financial year.
The breakdown reveals that Makerere University Business School will receive the largest share of Shs14 billion, followed by Makerere University with Shs12.6 billion.
Other universities slated to benefit include Muni University (Shs6.3b), Kyambogo University (Shs6b), Lira University (Shs4.7b), Busitema University (Shs3.9b), Mountains of the Moon University (Shs3b), Soroti University (Shs3.8b), Gulu University (Shs2.3b), Kabale University (Shs2.2b), Mbarara University of Science and Technology (Shs1.8b), and Uganda Management Institute (Shs1.3b).
Prof Eli Katunguka, the Vice Chancellor of Kyambogo University, expressed that the funds would facilitate the recruitment of additional teaching and non-teaching staff across various faculties.
Similarly, Mr Edwin Napakor, the chairperson of Makerere University Business School Academic Association, highlighted the positive impact this allocation would have on staff morale and performance.
Yusuf Kiranda, the Secretary of Makerere University, commended the government for prioritising staff welfare, assuring that the allocation would ensure fairness and leave no staff member behind. Meanwhile, Mr Peter Baranga, chairperson of the Mountains of the Moon University Academic Staff Association, deemed the allocated amount sufficient for salary harmonisation.
However, Dr Simon Kawuma, chairperson of the Mbarara University of Science and Technology Academic Staff Association, expressed concerns that the funds might only benefit a specific category of staff, calling for more equitable distribution.
This allocation comes after appeals from various university stakeholders, including Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Prof Barnabas Nawangwe, and the Makerere University Joint Staff Associations.
The announcement also precedes an impending industrial action threatened by the Joint Staff Association of Makerere University, which had given the administration an ultimatum until April 8 to address the salary harmonisation issue.
