Drama ensued at the Statistics House this morning when government told doctors it would not negotiate with their umbrella body Uganda Medical Association, because it is illegal.
The meeting was organized by government for a recently formulated cabinet multi-sectoral committee to interface with the striking medical officers to end their industrial action which is in its second week.
But instead, government through the ministers of health, finance and attorney general arrogantly told doctors, there wouldn’t be any negotiations since the strike is illegal as their body too.
Doctors in return told government, there is no way, the strike will end, if their demands are not met.
Doctors laid down their tools on Monday last week following protracted negotiations with government to give them a pay rise and improve their welfare in vain.They vowed not to resume work until government addresses their concerns. The doctors want government to increase the salary of medical interns from Shillings 960,000 to Shillings 8.5 million.
They also medical and teaching assistants to earn Shillings 15 million, get a two-bedroom house and a 2.5cc vehicle. They also want government to pay a senior consultant doctor or professor Shillings 48m including allowances; provide him a five-bedroom house, 4.0cc vehicle and three domestic workers. Currently, a senior consultant doctor earns about Shs3.4 million, consultant Shs2.6m, and a medical officer Shs1.1 million.
The doctors also want salaries for nurses and midwives enhanced to about Shillings 6.5 million besides providing them a three-bed roomed house, 2.0cc vehicle and one domestic worker.
Health minister Jane Ruth Aceng, who was heavily guarded by officers from the anti-riot police said while the doctors’ demands are legal, the strike is not. She reiterated that there won’t be negotiations.
He point was re-emphasized by an deputy Attorney General Mwesigwa Rukuutana who told medical interns to quit whining, know their place, and smile as they receive the current shillings government gifts them.
Rukuutana clearly explained that interns are doctors, and should quit acting so, or even asking for salaries. He added that they are not entitled to any allowances, but some small appreciation.
The Attorney General, William Byaruhanga also told the leadership of Uganda Medical Association-UMA that the mandate to negotiate with government lies with trade unions as provided for in the 2008 Labour Union Act.
"We have just come here to address you, we can talk to you as an association but we cannot negotiate with you. You should know that. This is information that you need to know" Byaruhanga said.
Adding that, "Government will adopt plan B if you fail to return to work. Our priority is the patients who have not been attended to. We request you to return to work."
However, Dr Ekwaro Obuku the President UMA in turn told Byaruhanga that doctors also have plan C.
“We may be illegal but legitimate. Minister Aceng sometimes speaks like she is the Minister for Internal affairs. I don’t work for Government, you cannot take away my job” Dr. Ekwaro told the minister off.
The doctors are scheduled to meet president Museveni on Friday to forge a way forward.
