Guild presidents of public universities under their umbrella, Public Universities Student Leaders Forum (PUSLF), have given government an ultimatum of not more than 48-hours to have resolved the grievances of striking staff.

Speaking at a press conference held at Makerere on Wednesday, the chairperson of PUSLF and guild president of Gulu University, Robert Mukembo said that the strike has lasted for so long and it should end immediately.

"We as leaders of students have now decided that if these public universities don't open by Friday, we are going to evoke article 29 of the Constitution of Uganda which guarantees freedom of education, and call upon students turn up in large numbers to join the striking staff in a walk to the Constitutional Square to demand for our Rights," Mukembo warned.

The guild presidents who included Jothan Burobuto (Makerere) Lawrence Lugalavu (Kyambogo) David Wekoye (Busitema), Charles Obore (Mbarara University of sciences and Technology), and Mukembo of Gulu were furious that the Ministry of Finance is trying to frustrate a presidential directive.

"We know very well that the president made this directive of paying salary arrears of the non-teaching staff and enhancing their salaries on Sept 23, last year. We known he was very sober.

"In addition, the Finance minister, [Matia Kasaija], agreed to pay as per the directive according to his letter to the president and the non-teaching staff dated May 2. Why is he changing now that there is no money? Why are they fooling us?" mukembo wondered.

Burobuto, who also acts as the spokesperson of PUSLF, said that the misunderstandings between the government the striking staff have directly impacted on students. He gave an example of how most students at Makerere were in recess and others doing internship, both of which were never concluded.

Burobuto said that they will also not allow further extension of opening dates for all these universities.

The non-teaching staff members of five public universities in Uganda went on strike last week on Monday. They are demanding government for a sum of about Shs 56bn which accounts for their arrears FY 2015/2016, and enhanced salaries of 2016/2017.

The chairperson of Public Universities  Non-Teaching Staff Executive Forum (Puntsef), Jackson Betihamah on Wednesday morning said: "Even if this strike lasts three months, provided they don't pay us, we are not going to resume working."

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