Dam Workers Strike Again

By Abubaker MukoseWORKERS of the Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited (UEGCL) at Nalubaale and Kiira hydropower dams in Jinja have gone on strike for the second time in two weeks.The workers abandoned the generation machines yesterday, protesting a 6% salary increment as opposed to their earlier demand for a 20% salary rise. Only the gauge panel and control room sections remained operational with hardly 15 employees attending to the machines out of over 200 workers of the two dams.The two sections are computerised hence the continuous power generation, but risk going off as a result of not being manned.By yesterday the electrical, mechanical maintenance and the civil engineering sections were deserted.In a circular issued by the UEGCL managing director, Mr. John Mugyenzi, the management had offered a 6% salary review with arrears since January and a bonus to all employees falling between the company’s salary scale 3 and 6(a). It also introduced a transport allowance to the said employees.Mugyenzi confirmed the strike adding that he had no solution to the problem since it was what the board had agreed upon.“I put in my proposal as per the workers’ demands following their meeting with my state minister (Daudi Migereko) and that in-charge of privatisation and this is what management could offer to the workers. However, something must be done to arrest the situation,” Mugyenzi said.Migereko said, “I hear the situation has been normalised and fresh negotiations are going on. The matter is being handled beautifully.”Ends