Lira district: Fear as over 200 teachers miss salaries

15 March 2023, 12:58 pm

By Hillary Opio

Uganda National Teacher’s Union Lira branch has said it fears some teachers could soon lay down their tools over unpaid salary arrears. Radio Qfm understands that at least some 200 teachers have missed salaries for close to a year now.

Speaking to our reporter on Tuesday, Robert Okwir, the chairperson UNATU Lira said he has visited many schools in the district and was approached by teachers who have complaints of unpaid salaries. Some he says have their names missing on the government payroll.

Okwir fears that these affected teachers are traumatized and may not concentrate while delivering lessons in their respective classes which could affect the performance of learners in the long run.

Susan Ayugi is a female teacher at Ayira primary school found in Bar sub county. She told Qfm she doesn’t remember when last she received her pay from government and yet she has deliver on her roles on a daily.

According to Ayugi, it is such a sad experience to teach other people’s children yet some of them are not able to pay school fees for their own children let alone providing for their households.

When contacted for comments, Ben Otim Ogwete, the chief administrative officer Lira district admitted that some teachers have missed salaries but said his team is tirelessly working around the clock to have the anomaly fixed.

Otim Ogwete said this was caused by changes in the government payment system which affected some of those teachers. He also said during the process of updating personal information, some teachers wrongly captured their dates of birth and wrong data of their National Identity Document.