Soroti City, July 17, 2024 — The Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) hosted a significant stakeholders meeting at Tedwills in Soroti City, bringing together key players in the education sector from the Teso Region. Attendees included 12 Human Resource Officers (HROs) from various districts, 12 UNATU branch chairpersons, the General Secretary, the Vice National Chairperson, the Regional Chairperson Teso, the Simameni Project Officer Teso, and the Regional Coordinator.
The primary objective of this meeting was for UNATU to interface with HRs, facilitating the exchange of ideas and addressing common challenges.
Paul Ojilong, the Teso Regional Chairperson, expressed his gratitude to the HRs for attending despite their busy schedules. He acknowledged the strategic relationship between UNATU and the HR offices, emphasizing the importance of this opportunity to share challenges and insights. “On behalf of the teachers of Teso, I would like to thank you for the work you have done,” Ojilong said, highlighting the distress faced by teachers, including those seeking early retirement. He urged HRs to provide counseling and support to teachers, to continue cooperating with the Union by providing requested information through Branch Chairpersons, and to advocate for the concerns of bereaved teachers.
Baguma Filbert Bates, the General Secretary, conveyed greetings from the National Chairperson and the entire UNATU leadership. He highlighted the significant role HRs play, as three-quarters of the people they serve are teachers. The GS addressed issues such as transfers, pensions, and salary delays, attributing these challenges to HR offices. He highlighted the importance of inviting HRs to thank them and discuss these matters.
The GS noted that mental health concerns, stemming from financial issues and limited financial literacy, should be addressed through teacher training. He encouraged HRs to familiarize themselves with the teachers they work with and emphasized the necessity of maintaining accurate membership records through deduction schedules that the Union requests per month.
He also highlighted that some local governments are not paying remittances and called for a stronger working relationship to ensure that deductions are properly remitted. He stressed that UNATU’s mandate, guided by its strategic plan, is to advocate for all public servants, ensuring “Equal pay for equal work done,” as stated in Article 40 of the Constitution.
The HR officers appreciated the General Secretary’s understanding of their challenges and the professional insights shared. They raised concerns about the implications of budget constraints on selective payments, the Integrated Personnel and Payroll System (IPPS), and the need for better financial discipline among teachers.
Discussions also covered issues like the UNATU SACCO, which requires proper contact information to support teachers effectively, and the practice of “moonlighting,” where teachers take on additional jobs, affecting their classroom performance. HRs agreed to collaborate with UNATU to recruit new members and provide crucial information on pensions, transfers, and loans.
The HRs acknowledged the good work UNATU is doing and pledged to continue working together, highlighting the need to address stringent financial institution policies that impact teachers. They also discussed the challenges related to teacher transfers and the lack of a clear staff structure from the Ministry, emphasizing the need for UNATU’s advocacy at higher levels.
In her closing remarks, Okwalinga Grace, the Vice National Chairperson, thanked the HRs for their participation and continuous support. She highlighted the importance of the relationship between UNATU and HRs and praised the General Secretary for organizing the meeting. She also thanked the HRs for ensuring timely salary payments and reducing deletions, based on feedback from teachers. She urged HRs to work with financial institutions to ensure teachers who have completed their deductions can settle their financial obligations smoothly.
The meeting showed the commitment of both UNATU and the HR officers to work collaboratively for the betterment of teachers and the overall education sector in the Teso Region.
