UGANDA NURSES AND MIDWIVES TO STRIKE OVER SACCO MONEY
By Clement Wangira
Nurses under their umbrella body, the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Union(UNMU) have given government a 90 -day ultimatum for releasing their SACCO money or else they lay down their tools.
According to the October 1rst letter to the Minister of Public Service but also copied to the President, Prime Minister, Minister for Health, Minister for Finance and the Ministry of Labour among other government agencies, the nurses say during celebrations to mark the International Nurses Day on May12, 2018 President Museveni promised them shs1 billion into their SACCO but the same has not materialized, says UNMU president, Justus Cherop Kiplangat
He explains that during last year’s celebrations the president made another pledge of increasing the nurses’ allowances which Cherop says has never been fulfilled.
“We have made several reminders to the concerned government ministries but have not received any positive response. You are well aware that the nurses and midwives are facing more great challenges during this Covid19 period ranging from very poor occupational safety and health standards to being unable to meet even the very basic economic needs.”
In March this year, Uganda Nurses and Midwives Union leaders met Speaker of Parliament of Uganda, the Right Honourable Rebbecca Alitwala Kadaga ahead of their celebrations of international Day. The team led by the Union President Cherop Kiplagat, complained to the Speaker about government’s failure to fullfill President Museveni’s pledges, nurses allowances and Union SACCO money.
The nurses implore the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga to push for the fulfillment of President Museveni’s pledges or they risk losing their votes.
“We would therefore like to ask, how far has the President fulfilled his pledges and are our leaders doing enough to make sure that these pledges are fulfilled?”