Sena Factory in Mbalala Industrial Park, Mukono District, is under investigation following multiple fatal accidents and safety non-compliance.
The most recent tragedy unfolded on Tuesday when an 18-year-old worker was decapitated by an industrial machine.
The incident, deemed a case of fatal negligence, also left two other workers critically injured, further fueling demands for stricter safety regulations in Uganda’s industrial sector.
Gerald Wasswa Mukisa, a recent secondary school graduate, had gone to work at the chinese-owned factory to raise funds for his A-Level education.
However, his life was cut short when he was pulled into a paper grinding machine that fatally severed his head.
His two colleagues, whose identities remain undisclosed, were rushed to Mulago Hospital with severe injuries.
The horrific accident has triggered widespread concern over workplace safety, particularly in foreign-owned factories operating in Uganda’s industrial parks.
Factory’s Questionable Operations
Beyond safety concerns, Sena Factory is also under scrutiny for its operational practices.
Investigations have revealed that the factory has changed names multiple times in its seven years of operation, allegedly to evade regulatory scrutiny.
While it is branded as Sena Factory, management told police that it was registered as Rhino Company Limited.
Further reports suggest that the company is now transitioning to yet another identity, Ever Package Uganda Limited.
Authorities have accused the company of launching projects without obtaining the necessary approvals.
The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) recently fined factory director Kai Wang ten million Ugandan shillings for commencing operations without conducting an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment.
“The fine is imposed on you for commencing a project without proper approval. Failure to comply will result in court proceedings or a Stop Order against your company’s operations,” stated NEMA Executive Director Dr. Barirega Akankwasa in an official letter dated January 20, 2025.
Under Uganda’s National Environment Act, businesses that fail to secure regulatory approval face fines of up to one hundred thousand currency points or up to fifteen years in prison.
Compensation Dispute
Mukisa’s grieving family was further enraged when factory officials allegedly attempted to downplay the incident.
Initially, the factory reportedly offered the family a mere one million Ugandan shillings in compensation, later increasing it to four million.
However, it was only after local leaders intervened, going as far as physically confronting factory representatives, that the company agreed to pay six million shillings to cover burial expenses.
Mukisa’s body was retrieved from the city mortuary and laid to rest in Zigoti, Mityana District.
Challenges in Factory Inspections
Local leaders say factory management frequently obstructs inspection efforts, allowing hazardous conditions to persist unchecked.
“These factories use outdated and unsafe machinery, endangering workers every day,” said Samuel Odongo, a local councillor.
Attempts by local leaders, including LC3 Chairperson John Bosco Isabirye, to inspect factories have been met with hostility.
District Vice Chairperson Asuman Muhumuza also reported being denied access by factory management, who insisted he obtain clearance from the ministry authorities.
A police officer, speaking anonymously, claimed that security personnel attempting inspections have been locked inside factory rooms for hours before being released, further complicating oversight efforts.
Ongoing Industrial Accidents
Mukisa’s death is the latest in a series of industrial accidents at Mbalala Industrial Park.
Last June, Godfrey Egesa was killed at Riley Packaging when a faulty forklift caused a stack of paper rolls to collapse on him.
Similarly, Felix Arindu, a machine operator at Hong Hai, an affiliate of the Tian Tang Group, was crushed to death by a machine.
On September 8, 2024, eighteen workers were seriously injured at Landy Industries, another Chinese-owned factory, but management reportedly refused to provide adequate compensation.
Several employees have got permanent injuries by the machines before being laid off with little to no compensation.
Government Response
While the district labour office has occasionally stepped in to calculate compensation for affected workers, critics argue that there has been little progress in ensuring safer working conditions.
LC5 Chairperson Rev. Peter Bakaluba Mukasa on several occasions accused district labour officer Doreen Berindah of failing to produce reports that could help improve worker welfare. Berindah has yet to respond to these allegations after securing permission from the Chief Administrative Officer-CAO.
The recent death of Gerald Wasswa Mukisa has amplified calls for the Ugandan government to strengthen enforcement of workplace safety laws and hold non-compliant companies accountable.
For Mukisa’s family and others who have lost loved ones to preventable industrial accidents, justice remains elusive.
END
English 