By Alfred Opio
PALLISA — A salary dispute at St. Joseph’s School Akadot in Pallisa Sub-county has escalated after a group of teachers stormed the district labour office demanding payment of accumulated arrears.
The teachers, citing months of unpaid wages and unfair treatment, are now seeking government intervention to resolve the standoff.
Those who filed complaints include Judith Akello, Jabel Opio, Rose Apio, and Aeron Kaguta. Another affected teacher reportedly did not appear for the complaint.
The group says they have endured prolonged financial hardship due to delayed salaries, with some claiming they have gone months without full payment.
Judith Akello told labour officials that the school owes her Shs 600,000, which she says has disrupted her livelihood.
“I have waited patiently, but no one is showing concern,” she said, adding that repeated appeals to the administration have gone unanswered.
Jabel Opio revealed he is owed two months’ salary, saying the delays have made it difficult to meet basic needs and continue teaching effectively.
Rose Apio said she is demanding Shs 500,000 in unpaid wages, accusing the school of failing to treat the matter with urgency.
“The school is not taking this debt seriously, yet we depend on this money to survive,” she said.
Aeron Kaguta described his situation as the most severe, stating that since joining the school in September last year, he has received only Shs 150,000 in total.
“This is not sustainable,” he said, adding that attempts to seek clarification internally have not yielded results.
The teachers also raised concerns over what they described as unclear and unfair suspension letters, which they claim were issued in retaliation for demanding payment.
In response, school director Joseph Okiring acknowledged delays in salary payments but blamed the situation on internal administrative challenges.
He said the school’s financial system was disrupted when a bursar allegedly left without proper handover, affecting records of fee payments.
“Our system is digitalized, and when the bursar left, we lost track of financial records. We could not determine which parents had paid fees and which had not,” Okiring explained.
He added that the school adopted a “cluster payment system,” where some staff are paid in full while others wait for subsequent payments.
“Instead of paying everyone small amounts, we prioritize a group and clear their balances, then move to the next,” he said.
Okiring maintained that most of the school’s 23 staff members had been paid, though he admitted some, including the complainants, had not yet received their March salaries.
He also accused some teachers of unprofessional conduct, including refusing to mark exams and complete report cards in protest, which he said affected learners and raised concerns among parents.
Labour officials are expected to investigate the matter and mediate between the parties.
The dispute highlights ongoing challenges in private schools, including financial instability, management gaps, and strained employer-employee relations.
Education stakeholders in Pallisa are now calling for stronger oversight to protect teachers’ rights and ensure accountability, as affected staff hope for a quick resolution to restore both their income and dignity.
