By Denis Ongora (denis.ongora@vol.co.ug)
Lira City.
Medical laboratory technologists working in government hospitals and health centers in Northern Uganda have resumed work following the suspension of a three week strike by the leadership of Uganda Medical laboratory association (UMLTA)
According to the press release dated 14th January 2022, from UMLTA, medical laboratory technicians in all government facilities in the country were supposed to resume work on 15th January 2022.
Speaking to Voice of Lango Fm Saturday evening the northern Uganda representative to UMLTA Christopher Oluju says majority of their members have already resumed work but also called on others still at home to immediately report for duty.
According to Oluju,their members have heeded to the call from government to resume to work as they await for the response from the Ministry of public service concerning their demands.
Uganda Medical Laboratory Technology Association-UMLTA announced an industrial action which took effect on the 21st December 2022.
Among the pertinent issues they wanted government to address include; salary, where they said degree holders in laboratory are being paid shs1.2million, yet it’s supposed to be an entry salary for diploma holders.
They are also demanding for promotions, internship for graduate of laboratory technology, Covid allowances for lab technicians of lower health facilities and compensation for lab technicians who were killed by covid-19 at the course of their duty, among others.
On the 11th January 2022, a delegation from UMLTA led by the president Byagamy John Paul met the minister of public service and other officials of the same ministry and agreed that the issues which caused industrial action be resolved within a period of a month.
Consequently, on 12th January 2022, the minister of public service Wilson Muruli Mukasa wrote a letter requesting UMLTA to call off the strike.
