Doctors under their umbrella body Uganda medical association (UMA) have threatened to lay down their tools starting November 6th 2017 after government ignored their calls for salary increment.
A few weeks ago, UMA led by Dr. Ekwaru Obuku listed a litany of demands on government among others, the call to action of all doctors employed in the public service to lay down their tools if their salary demands are not met within a specific period.
In addition, a veiled threat was made to government and its law enforcement bodies to desist from “arresting” doctors and instead make recourse to their professional bodies for disciplinary or other action for those caught engaging in professional malpractice.
Doctors argued that if Government can manage to waste money on the Age limit Bill consultations by members of parliament, it then should have enough money to give them reasonable salaries and buy all medical equipment in hospitals.
However, last week State House’s health monitoring unit issued a statement disowning the UMA claiming the association is not known anywhere. The health monitoring unit also wondered if UMA is registered as a labour union.
The statement also indicated that Uganda’s economy cannot maintain a pay of 48m per month to doctors as demanded.
“Even if it were, the salary demands of raising the emoluments of a doctor up to a tune of Shs. 48 million is simply unsustainable for a developing country like Uganda. While we are sure of government’s commitment to increase the pay of its doctors, Dr. Obuku and his team should be mindful of the country’s resource capacity and not hold the treasury at ransom” part of the statement by Dr. Jackson Ojera Abusu
Director health monitoring unit read.
But, members of the association say they will not go to work starting November 6th.
Now, as doctors plead for mercy, Parliament has released 29 million Shillings for each Member to facilitate consultations on the proposed 'Age Limit' Bill in their respective constituencies.
Chris Obore, Parliament's Director Communications and Public Affairs says that the Clerk to Parliament Jane Kibirige Received 13 billion Shillings to cater for the consultations on the Constitutional (Amendment) (No.2) Bill, 2017.
"Clerk to Parliament has found 13 billion Shillings. That money was picked from the mandatory emoluments for Members of Parliament to first enable them to go and do the consultations," said Obore.
With consultations already going on in a number of constituencies across the country, Obore says that the official period that has been allocated for consultations is 15 days starting from October 25 to November 8, 2017. He also adds that the directive of the clerk is that each MP will be consulting in their constituency.
Looks like more Ugandans have been sacrificed to die at the expense of the controversial Bill that has so far faced resistance from several members of the public, especially on the opposition side.
Two weeks ago, the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga adjourned parliament to enable MPs to consult widely on the controversial amendment. With this directive, a number of MPs have been going on with the consultations even without the provision of this consultation money.
