After nearly a month long strike by Gulu University lecturers over unpaid allowances, Lectures finally resumed at the campus on Saturday, following a meeting between the administration and lecturers held on Friday.
Students, especially those on weekend had not had lectures since August 12th when the University opened after lecturers went on strike protesting delayed payment of their allowances.
The University Deputy Public Relations Officer, Mr Khalid Mahmoud said on Friday evening that, “We are asking all students to turn up at the University and attend lecturers tomorrow (Saturday).
He said lecturers and the administration had finally agreed on the policy that lecturers must have at least 10 contact hours per week with students before considering weekend as extra work load.
Since August when the new semester opened, lecturers who teach weekend students have been demanding for allowances, amounting to Shs1.5 billion.
The most affected were students in the Faculty of Business and Developmental Studies, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Education and Humanities and the Faculty of Agriculture and Environment.
Last Saturday morning, angry students carrying placards in protest over the lack of teaching marched to the office of the Gulu Resident District Commissioner (RDC) demanding that lectures should resume.
Led by the University Guild President, Mr Richard Bongowat -Luganya, the students submitted a six page petition to the RDC.
In their letter, the weekend programs students demanded for unconditional resumption of lectures within one week or else they will drag the university to court.
Mr Bongowat –Luganya noted that, “It is painful that the university has failed to honor the request after agreeing to resolve the problem.”
The Guild President also questioned why the allowances of the striking lecturers have not been remitted yet the students pay tuition to the school administration on time.
The petition was received by Mr John Nkwassibwe, the Gulu Deputy District Internal Security Officer on behalf of the RDC who promised follow up the matter so that lecturers resume.
He lauded the students for choosing non-violent means to show their dissatisfaction.
Mr Mahmoud, earlier said some of the lecturers are claiming what is not due to them.
“As a university policy, a lecturer is supposed to have 10 contact hours with the students in a week. Some are teaching 10 hours on weekend and asking for payment for work and yet they are on payroll.” He explained.
He noted some of the academic staff have worked for only two hours during the weekdays and ten hours during weekend and are claiming for payments higher than what he or she is supposed to receive.
He stressed that those who worked for more than 10 hours in week are the one entitled to receive extra load allowance.
According to the university publicist, if one is on a pay roll, he or she has the obligation to teach for ten hours and will be paid for an allowance for the extra work done but not wait for the weekend.
He however said after the meeting, lecturers had come to an understanding and that normalcy had returned.
Weekend students who spoke to Acholi Times confirmed that lectures had indeed resumed.
The students’ strike was sparked off by an announcement by the university administration to recruit new lecturers to replace those on sit-down strike.
In a letter dated September, 4, 2015, Prof. Jack Pen-Mogi, the University Vice Chancellor said the strike is by a section of academic staff.
Prof. Pen-Mogi also called on those who applied for teaching positions at the University to follow up their applications.
