A teacher at Universal Standard Technical School in Larro Division in Gulu Municipality is on hunger strike to force his bosses to pay his salary arrears.
Jimmy Otim began his solo strike on Friday. He has pitched camp at the school, spending his nights out in the cold on the verandahs.
Otim claims that he hasn't been paid salary for two months. He says Universal Standard Technical School owes him 540,000 shillings. He has vowed not to eat, drink or leave the school compound for the next three days. If he isn't paid, he will sue the school.
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Otim, who looks quite weak and frail, says he is originally from Pader District. He says returning to his home isn't an option because he has no transport to leave Gulu. It doesn't help that his landlord in Gulu is demanding that he immediately pays rent for the small house he is living in.
Universal Standard Technical School is a private school, with an enrollment of 100 students.
Patrick Ogwal, the school headmaster, says Jimmy Otim isn't the only one affected by non-payment of salaries. Ogwal says neither him nor the other 11 teachers at the school have received salaries because of a shortage of funds.
A number of teachers, who spoke to reporters in confidence, said they too are on strike and have refused to teach.
