The non-teaching staff in government Universities have strongly warned against any diversion of funds intended for salary harmonization. The Public Universities Non-Teaching Staff Executives’ Forum (PUNTSEF) is at the forefront, voicing their concerns over the potential misallocation of these crucial resources.

Jackson Betihamah, the chairperson of PUNTSEF, expressed alarm over reports that certain individuals at multiple universities are considering using the allocated funds for hiring new staff rather than addressing salary discrepancies. This move, according to Betihamah, would contravene the government’s explicit objective of harmonizing salaries to ensure fair pay across the board.

During a recent meeting, the distress over such proposals was discussed extensively. Betihamah stressed the importance of maintaining the integrity of the government’s allocation, emphasizing that “individuals on the same pay scales should receive equal pay across all universities, and all scales below PU15 should be abolished.”

The Ministry of Public Service, in a statement on April 3, detailed the distribution of a substantial sum of Shs61,137,083,690 set aside in the FY2024/2025 Budget specifically for this purpose. Among the major beneficiaries, Makerere University Business School and Makerere University top the list, allocated Shs14 billion and Shs12.6 billion, respectively.

Despite these measures, significant pay disparities persist, posing challenges in achieving pay equity. For instance, at Kyambogo University, there is a notable difference in salary between teaching staff in the science category on the PU3 scale and their non-teaching counterparts, with the former earning 15.6 million shillings compared to the latter’s 10.6 million shillings.

The push for salary harmonization is not new and stems from historical imbalances that have often led to discontent and strikes among university staff. Both teaching and non-teaching staff have been vociferous in their demands for equal pay for similar qualifications and roles, as per the unified-single spine payroll system established following the 1982 Public Service Salaries Review Commission report.

Bruce Twesigye, PUNTSEF’s General Secretary, reminded that the government had committed to an payroll audit, a validation process, and subsequent harmonization of salaries before implementing any changes. This commitment was a response to ongoing advocacy from university staff for fair compensation practices.

The contention over pay discrepancies reached a critical point at Makerere University, where it was revealed that approximately 23 billion shillings would be necessary to align its staff salaries with those at other public universities. This revelation came from Thomas Tayebwa, who chairs the committee tasked with investigating these disparities.

The Makerere University Academic Staff Association (MUASA) has temporarily suspended their strike in light of the government’s commitment and the forthcoming budget reading. The association has decided to hold off any further industrial action until after the budget announcement, demonstrating a cautious optimism that the government will uphold its promise to address the salary imbalances.

The resolution by MUASA to suspend the strike reflects a broader hope among university staff that the government will fulfill its pledge to harmonize salaries effectively. The coming days will prove critical as the public universities’ community awaits the national budget reading, hoping for a positive resolution that will bring an end to longstanding issues of salary inequity.