By Sumayya Nanfuka
Uganda Nurses and Midwives Union members who had agreed to call off their strike as they discussed with government got divided as some kept away from work.
The union leaders and the government agreed to continue with discussions and come up with final position on the issues raised by the Nurses and Midwives Union.
Uganda Nurses and Midwives Union General Secretary Mr Paul Bukenya announced on December 5, 2017 after the union officials met Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda.
The union leaders earlier held a meeting with President Yoweri Museveni December 4 and agreed to call off the strike.
Sources within State House said the President directed the Ministry of Public Service to look into the nurses demands for a possibe pay rise.
Nurses threatened to go on strike a few days after medical doctors under Uganda Medical Association (UMA) compelled government to accept to increase their salaries following their strike last month.
The nurses and midwives are demanding for 400 per cent pay rise that will increase the pay of the lowest paid nurse to Shs 2.5 million and Shs 9 million for the highest paid nurse.
According to their demands the money will include housing, risk, medical, responsibility, transport, transfer, leave, funeral and overtime allowances for each member.
The developments come after the long – running leadership wrangles in the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Union ended October this year with two antagonistic General Secretaries, Ms Lucy Atim Joyce and Ms Edith Nassuna being dropped.
It necessitated intervention by National Organisation of Trade Unions (NOTU) leadership, veteran trade unionists and the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD) to end the wrangles.
Stakeholders in the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Union held several meetings and both Lucy Atim and Edith Nassuna’s camps and moderates met and agreed to end wrangles and set up , an – all inclusive Interim national committee
