UGANDA, Kampala | Real Muloodi News | In 2019, the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Union (UNMU) asked President Museveni for land at Mulago National Referral Hospital to set up a university for specialised courses.
The land would also host a canteen, hostel, and offices for the improvement of the welfare of the nurses and midwives.
The President directed the Ministry of Health to avail land where the UNMU could build according to their plan. He gave the directive while officiating the International Nurses Day Celebrations at Kyamate Secondary School grounds in Ntungamo Municipality that year.
However last month, different media houses accused UNMU leaders of selling the very land that the government had leased to them, for their own gain.
The UNMU authorities have since categorically refuted these allegations. The chairman of the Union, Dr Justus Cherop, stated at a news conference held at the Union headquarters in Mulago Kawempe Division, Kampala, that the land was sub-leased under the Public-Private Partnership.
The site was subleased to First Pharmacy Company Limited, which is now developing a five-story structure to house an institute for Nursing and Midwives, where such medical staff would be trained.
“We sub-leased the land as a Union because we didn’t have the funds to develop it and we agreed with our partner that we will occupy the last two floors for our planned Nursing institute while the partner will occupy the first two floors for shops,” Dr Cherop said.
He further said the 0.384 acres of land on plot 2A 2-10 on Kira Road was sub-leased for 49 years, and this was because they had pressure, and some land grabbers have been eying it.
Fatima Nassaka, President of the Uganda Comprehensive Nursing Association, rejected rumours on social media that they are planning a strike.
“We are still following the agreement we made with the ministry of health and that of Public Service. We agreed that the salaries of the medical workers will be enhanced in the coming financial year,” Nassaka said.
President Museveni has commanded that the wage for doctors be increased to USh5 million per month in the coming fiscal year, while nurses with a degree would be paid USh4.8 million, diploma holders USh3 million, and those with certificates USh1.3 million.
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