By Mununi Paul Kazira
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 tools.
According to an October, 1st 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 in May last year, President Museveni promised them shs1 billion into their Sacco but the same has not materialized.
UNMU president, Justus Cherop Kiplangat says in the letter that on October,24th ,2019, the Principal Private Secretary to the President communicated a presidential directive towards the fulfillment of his pledge to Ministry of Finance but to date, the ministry has remained silent on the issue.
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.
Nurses and midwives are currently getting 2000 shillings as their daily allowance but in the agreement they reached with government, the money will be increased to 15000 shillings.
The Uganda Nurses and Midwives Union says that at the end of the 90days grace period on December 30th, 2020, they will begin an industrial action until their issues are solved by government.