A poorly handled emergency incident at Riley packaging factory at Mbalala industrial park in Mukono district ended in a tragedy with the death of a worker.
The deceased worker identified as Godfrey Egesa succumbed to internal injuries as a result of negligence from the factory’s emergency response team.
Egasa was hit by strong rolls of raw materials used in making boxes at the factory after they fell off from an improper forklift on Monday.
Eyewitnesses at the factory say his chances of survival were high but the response team kept him at the factory compound waiting for clearance from the factory’s top managers.
“It took the response team close to two hours to seek clearance, at the factory here, an accident is considered an emergency when it has happened to only our bosses (Indians), for local workers protocols of clearing a vehicle to move out must be followed.” A worker who preferred anonymity revealed.
Despite working in the environment of improper machinery, several local workers at Riley Packaging lack essential personal protective gear including gloves, ear covers, boots, and headgear.
“This hazardous situation poses a significant risk to their safety, as their eardrums are vulnerable to damage. And even in cases where they are unable to conceal the truth, they ensure that the police report is written in their favour to minimize expenses. The reality is that the lives of workers are at risk,” He further revealed.
Most workers lack proper contracts which makes it difficult for them to receive medical treatment and compensation in the event of injuries.
Unverified claims at Riley Packaging indicate that all victims of injuries are given one million shillings as compensation regardless of the period one has worked for the factory and the magnitude of the injuries.
These claims paint a disturbing picture of a system in which the welfare and safety of workers are compromised for the sake of financial convenience and profit.
The alleged practices of the factory managers not only betray a lack of concern for the well-being of their employees but also shed light on a larger issue surrounding worker rights and the need for comprehensive regulations to protect individuals working in hazardous environments.
Our efforts to have an official comment about the death incident and the overall working condition of workers at Riley Packaging remain futile as the Human Resource Officer, Robert Kamira declined to talk to us.
When further contacted via WhatsApp and presented with various concerns that required a response including the death incident, he responded that everything was ‘not true’.
Local leaders at Mbalala express frustration as their ability to address the bad working situations at many factories is limited.
The factory management denied them access, preventing them from personally assessing the truth of the workers’ grievances, particularly regarding the alleged substandard working conditions to initiate constructive dialogue aimed at improving the overall situation for the benefit of both the factory/company and its workers.
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