A second worker fatality at a China Communications Construction Company Limited (CCCC) site in Mukono has once again raised serious concerns about safety standards and compliance, just months after the company resumed operations following an earlier suspension by Mukono Municipal Council.
Nicholas Tumushabe, a 26-year-old machine operator, was fatally struck by a tractor earlier this week while working along the Albert-Cook Road section — one of the key infrastructure projects under the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area Urban Development Programme (GKMA-UDP).
According to eyewitness accounts, Tumushabe died instantly. His body was later taken to Mukono Church of Uganda Hospital.
This latest tragedy follows an earlier fatal incident at the same site and comes despite prior disciplinary action taken against CCCC for safety violations.
On March 11, 2025, Mukono Municipal Council suspended all civil works by CCCC, citing systemic non-compliance with contractual conditions, environmental and social safeguards, and failure to ensure worker protection.
The suspension came after multiple warnings issued following numerous reported breaches.
At the time, Town Clerk Francis Byabagambi highlighted serious lapses in incident reporting, lack of safeguards personnel, failure to provide medical support, and absence of proper grievance mechanisms for workers.
He condemned what he called a “total disregard” for the company’s obligations to protect workers and the public.
However, CCCC was later allowed to resume operations after reportedly committing to a corrective action plan that included full inspection of equipment, deployment of environmental and social safeguard teams, and establishment of proper emergency response measures.
Now, with another fatality on record, questions are emerging over the effectiveness of those reforms and whether the company has fully complied with the terms of resumption.
Despite inquiries, CCCC has not issued an official statement regarding the latest incident or whether additional safety protocols were implemented at the time of Tumushabe’s death.
The Mukono Municipal Council is reportedly reviewing the incident, and further enforcement action could be on the table.
Meanwhile, civil society groups and labor rights activists are demanding transparency and accountability from both CCCC and supervising agencies.
“This death is not just an accident—it’s a symptom of systemic neglect,” said Jonan Mbuga, a local labor advocate. “How many more lives must be lost before real enforcement takes place?”
The Ministry of Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs (MoKCC&MA), which oversees the GKMA-UDP programme, has yet to comment on the incident.
As the investigation continues, the death of Nicholas Tumushabe adds to growing concerns over the safety of workers involved in major public infrastructure projects—and whether enforcement mechanisms are strong enough to protect them.
English 