URN.Ssentongo said that the current Pensioners’ Association has been asking retired teachers about 50,000 shillings before recommending them to access benefits something which is unfair and unnecessary.
Boniface Ssentongo the Chairperson of Luwero Retired Teachers speaking at meeting organised at Wobulenzi Public Primary School where the association was unveiled
Retired teachers in Luwero have formed an association to pursue their retirement benefits as a protest against the levy by the district pensions association. The Retired Teachers’ Association, which has so far registered 80 retired headteachers and teachers was unveiled on Monday.
The Association has successfully registered in the district as a Community Based Organization. There are 668 pensioners on the government payroll in Luwero, the majority of whom are retired teachers, health workers, and local government staff among others.
The Ministry of Public Service directed pensioners to form associations to validate their members before submitting their names to the district to access their benefits to minimize ghost pensioners on the payroll.
However, the teachers say that the Pensioner’s Association in Luwero district has failed to organize elections, mobilize, and charges members unfair fees to recommend them to access their benefits. Boniface Ssentongo, the Chairperson of Luwero Retired Teachers Association, says that the association intends to unite all retired teachers and the managers of the estate of deceased teachers.
Ssentongo says that the Association will also help retired teachers to access their retirement benefits through creating a good working relationship with the district. He says that the current Pensioners’ Association has been charging retired teachers about Shillings 50,000 before recommending them to access their benefits, which is unfair and unnecessary.
Kyobe Wamala and Noeline Zalwango all retired teachers have welcomed the creation of the Association, say that the Pensioners’ Association had marginalized retired teachers yet they form the majority of its membership.
The retired teachers have promised to continue subscribing to the Pensioners’ Association and work with it on matters of mutual interest. Fred Mukiibi, the Chairperson of Luwero District Pensioners’ Association couldn’t pick our repeated calls to comment on allegations leveled against his association.
Bernard Okello, the Luwero District Human Resource Officer, says that the district will work with the retired teacher’s association to ensure they achieve their objectives. He also explained that the Chief Administrative Officer has already directed the Commercial Officer to write to the Pensioners’ Association ordering them to conduct elections involving all members.
Okello also expressed disappointment that the Pensioners’ Association went off track and started charging members fees to recommend them to access their benefits yet he personally donated an ink pad and stamp for the job. He has advised the Pensioners’ Association to find other ways to get money to sustain the Association rather than levying unfair fees to validate and recommend their members.
