The Western Sub-Regional Stakeholders Meeting, organized by the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU), took place on 23rd August 2024 at Kolping Hotel in Hoima City. The meeting brought together 7 Human Resource Officers (HROs) from districts within the sub-region, 7 Branch Chairpersons, the General Secretary of UNATU, the Regional chairperson Western, the Regional Administrator for Western Region, and the Regional Secretary for Planning and Organizing. This annual meeting serves as a strategic platform for discussing and resolving issues related to the welfare and management of teachers in the region.
Opening Remarks by the Host Branch Chairperson
The meeting commenced with a warm welcome from the Host Branch Chairperson Hoima City, who expressed gratitude to all participants for their attendance. He extended special thanks to Okiria Patience for her leadership in organizing the event. The Chairperson emphasized the importance of collaboration between UNATU and the Office of the Human Resource Officer, noting that the meeting was an opportunity to acknowledge the invaluable work of the HROs and strengthen the partnership with Branch Chairpersons.
Communication from the Regional Chairperson
In his address, Regional Chairperson Mugenyi David welcomed the attendees and highlighted the meeting’s primary goal: to share experiences and improve the management of teachers’ welfare across the sub-region. He recognized the critical role of HROs as strategic partners in addressing teachers’ issues and underscored the importance of maintaining strong working relationships between Chairpersons and HROs. He also discussed the challenges posed by the coding of teachers in the Human Capital Management (HCM) system and the need for efficient processes to prevent recurring issues.
Objectives and Purpose of the Meeting
The General Secretary of UNATU, Baguma Filbert Bates, articulated the significance of the meeting, noting the central role that HROs play in managing the majority of civil servants who are mainly teachers. He acknowledged the challenges faced by HROs, particularly regarding payroll, posting, and pension issues, and emphasized the need for effective communication and collaboration with Branch Chairpersons to alleviate these pressures. Mr. Baguma also touched on the mental health challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, salary discrimination resulting in high early retirement rates among teachers. He called for mutual support between UNATU and HROs to address these concerns.
In addition, Mr. Baguma discussed the ongoing transition from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll System (IPPS) to the HCM system, highlighting issues such as double payments and code dropping. He urged the HROs to utilize orientations and World Teachers’ Day (WTD) events to disseminate vital information to teachers, particularly regarding retirement, leave, and other pertinent matters. He also addressed the recruitment process, calling for close cooperation between UNATU and HROs to ensure smooth operations.
Plenary Session and Responses from the General Secretary
The plenary session provided a platform for Human Resource Officers to raise various concerns, including the limited slots allocated to districts by the Ministry of Education, caretaking head teachers, early retirement challenges, and the discrepancy between degrees held by teachers and their corresponding pay. Validation and the challenges it presented, Participants also discussed the issue of dropped codes and how UNATU can assist in resolving these challenges.
In response, the General Secretary addressed each concern, reaffirming UNATU’s commitment to supporting teachers through advocacy and policy implementation. He emphasized the importance of continuous sensitization of teachers on financial literacy, particularly in light of the multiple loan burdens they face. The General Secretary also pledged to work on resolving validation issues when the information of the affected teachers is availed. He also addressed the complexities of the Human Capital Management (HCM) system, including the lack of structure for certain teacher positions and the challenges of code dropping. He assured the participants that UNATU would work closely with relevant authorities to rectify these issues, emphasizing the importance of timely and accurate information sharing between Chairpersons and HROs. He also encouraged Branch Chairpersons to submit detailed information on caretaking headteachers to ensure that those in acting positions are recognized and supported
The GS further provided updates on the UNATU Laptop Scheme, which aims to offer affordable laptops to members, including HROs as strategic partners. He concluded by thanking the HROs for their participation and encouraged continued collaboration between Chairpersons and HROs to address unresolved issues, particularly those related to coding.
Vote of Thanks by Patience Okiria, Regional Administrator for Western Region
The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks from Patience Okiria, the Regional Administrator for Western Region. She expressed her appreciation to the HROs for their full attendance and reiterated the importance of ongoing engagement between HROs and Chairpersons to ensure the well-being of teachers in the sub-region.
This Western Sub-Regional Stakeholders Meeting showcased the strong collaboration needed to address teachers’ challenges and improve their welfare. The discussions and commitments made will help strengthen the partnership between UNATU and Human Resource Officers in the region
