Nurses under their umbrella body, Uganda Nurses and Midwives Union (UNMU) are demanding for a 400 percent salary increment and allowances totalling to Shs9m each.
According to The Observer, the nurses are threatening to lay down their tools if their request is not met within the next seven days. Paul Henry Bukenya, the union’s secretary general says that the 400 percent increment will raise the salary of the lowest paid nurse to Shs 2.5 million. He says that the Shs 9 million allowance will cover the cost of housing, risk, medical, responsibility, transport, transfer, leave, funeral and overtime for each member.
“The members noted that salaries for nurses and midwives be increased by 400 percent effective with the lowest cadre in nursing earning 2,500,000,” the letter signed by Bukenya reads.
The Union, an independent entity working to safeguard the professional, social and organizational interests of nurses and midwives fronted the demand through a letter to the permanent secretary Ministry of Public Service.
The letter is copied to the Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, Speaker Rebecca Kadaga, Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng and Finance Minister Matia Kasaija.