Academic and non-teaching staff members at Kyambogo University have been left torn apart after Museveni failed to fulfill a promise he made to them last year.

According to Dr Grace Lubaale, the out-going chairman of Kyambogo University Academic Staff Association (Kyuasa), president Museveni promised Shs 50b to cater for their salary enhancement and arrears for all academic staff in all public universities.

He also said that following their successful lobby, the Public Universities Non-Teaching Staff Association (Puntsef) members, under the leadership of Jackson Betihamah also met the president the same year and asked for increment of their salaries. He said the president accepted their demand.

What later followed were series of debates between ministry of Finance and Puntsef heads to see how this "order from above" could be effected, including two demonstrations by the latter's members that saw them lay down their tools to quicken the process.

However, last week, according to Lubaale, Museveni's pledge was partially fulfilled by the ministry of Finance and a total sum of Shs 8.3bn was given to Kyambogo University in particular, 4.9bn  for academic staff, while 3.4bn for the non-teaching staff, respectively. This move has given a fertile ground for the growth of hatred between the two associations that would, under normal circumstances, have remained closely attached to each other.

But Lubaale on Tuesday said that they have learnt about a move by top officials from Kyambogo's non-teaching staff association who are want this money added up and them shared equally amongst the two divides. Something he vehemently condemns.

Lubaale added that Puntsef members in Kyambogo claim their arrears for FY 2015/2016 were not paid up as they had agreed with the president, reason being insufficient funds in the country's budet, adding even their salaries have not been fully enhanced.

He said: "Our staff comprises of 360 members and there is no way we can allow this money to be equally shared. It is clearly stated that Shs 4.9bn is ours as academic staff, according to information from the bursar's office. We already know how much each of us is going to earn this month, with a professor getting Shs 8m from Shs 6m last year. We warn that no one should touch on our money, or else the consequences will be severe."

However, Puntsef members in Kyambogo say that they want harmonised salary scale. They argue that a Kyusasa member in salary scale M6, for example, and earning Shs 8m, should be the same earning for a non-teaching staff member in the same salary scale.

"This money was given to Kyambogo as a whole," Betihamah said. "There were no divisions that this amount goes to the academic staff members and this to the non- teaching staff. So, we need this money added and equally shared within us as staff members of Kyambogo University not to academic staff only."

Betihamah also said that Keith Muhakanizi, the Permanent Secretary for ministry of Finance, planning and Economic Development had, on May 2, 2016, through writing, accepted to pay their arrears of last year together with their enhanced salaries. He said that this promise has not been fulfilled, and they are now thinking of an alternative way as roundtable discussions have failed to untie the knot.

"Our stand is very clear: the financial year 2016/2017 started on first July and we need all our money paid up. If this is not done, come Aug 1, 2016, as Puntsef, we are laying down our tools," Betihamah cautioned.

Betihamah also said that Muhakanizi told them that the deficit to pay their arrears together with their enhanced salaries was as a result of diverting funds to S. Sudan to rescue Ugandans that were trapped in the war-torn country.

Now the teaching staff members say that they are waiting for the end of this month's salaries, and if they don't receive them as they already expect them, they will immediately convene a meeting and forge a way forward.

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