The Uganda Members Parliament on Social Services Committee disagreed with the officials from Ministry of Education and Sports after failing to convince them on how readily the ministry is to address the pending teachers’ strike over increment of their salary by 100%.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Francis Lubaga told the committee that the ministry has no capacity to increase Teacher’s Salary without the effort of other sister ministries like Finance and Public Service.

Lubega said the ministry is only encouraging negotiations with the teachers to reach a consensus without striking.

The proposal was strongly opposed by the Mbarara Municipality MP, Bernard Bitekyerezo who said the ministry has to do something to address the plight of teachers and desist from undermining them by endless promise which is never implemented.

The Committee Chairperson Dr Sam Lyomoki warned the officials that they risk cutting the budget of some their departments in order to cater for teachers salary demands, if they continue dillydallying.

Lyomoki also threatened not to pass the entire budget for the financial year 2011/2012 unless teacher’s salary is addressed.

By Mugisa Mathias Isaac