Lecturers at Makerere University return to class this morning after a three-week strike that paralyzed education at Uganda’s biggest campus. The staffs were on Friday made juicy promises by the university council, led by Lorna Magara, the new council chairperson.
Magara says after a series of meetings with the angry members of the university associations, on Friday they promised to handle their issues to the end and ensure that a solution is found within a period of one month.
Hell broke loose at Makerere when Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, the university Vice Chancellor suspended association leaders over alleged indiscipline and inciting staff.
Those suspended are Dr. Deus Kamunyu Muhwezi, the Chairperson Makerere University Academic Staff Association-MUASA, Magara Bennet, the Chairperson Makerere Administrative Staff Association and his General Secretary, Joseph Kalema.
Their suspension led to a sit down strike that has seen no lectures at the campus since its opening in January.
Now, council has promised to expedite the reinstatement of the suspended lecturers, disband a committee put in place by Prof Barnabas Nawangwe, handling their issues at the top most level of the university and reassuring them of committed leadership and goodwill.
During a meeting on Friday, the staff unanimously agreed to go back to class starting today. Dan Kidega the council’s vice chairperson told the lecturers that the new council had their back and would hold an immediate meeting after their decision.
Council which also held a meeting on Friday demanded that the university appointments committee investigates circumstances under which the two staff leaders were suspended.