Garbage collectors protest
Nov 01, 2007
WORKERS of six garbage collection firms in Kampala parked their trucks full of stinking garbage in front of the Kampala City Council offices yesterday, demanding payment,
WORKERS of six garbage collection firms in Kampala parked their trucks full of stinking garbage in front of the Kampala City Council offices yesterday, demanding payment, reports Herbert Ssempogo.
The 20 trucks, which lined Kimathi Avenue from dawn, had caused a huge traffic jam by 10:00am. A nasty stench wafted off the garbage, while a green liquid oozed out of the trucks, forming unsightly rivulets on the tarmac.
The 30 uniformed garbage collectors were not bothered. As motorists maneuvered through the narrow space, they remained at the gate, insisting to have an audience with KCC officials.
The workers represented six firms under the Waste Management Association of Uganda - Nabugabo Updeal Joint Venture, Norema Services, Hilltop, Homeklin, Tesco and Esscom, curved out of Mayor Nasser Sebaggala’s supporters. They claimed sh2.2b for the entire contract, which is ending on December 1.
“Waste collection is vital to keeping Kampala city clean,†read a placard pasted on one of the trucks.
“I have been working for months but I have not received a coin,†John Okullo from Nabugabo Updeal Joint Venture said.
“Hajji†Dalawusi from the same company claimed KCC had failed to pay him for one year of service.
According to Abudala Mubiru of Esscom, it would be an uphill task trying to get their money once the Commonwealth Summit is over, later this month.
The companies reportedly signed a contract with KCC in the middle of 2007 to collect garbage from the city and its suburbs between July and December 1.
However, the local government ministry, which was supposed to finance the project, pulled out, leaving the city authorities at a crossroads.
Jittery company leaders later yesterday met with KCC officials. Health secretary Caesar Tokoma asked the team to formalise the initial contract before the arrears could be paid. According to Tokoma, the contract should have been amended after the local government ministry pulled out.
City advocate Karungonjo said at the meeting that the contract lacked the input of the senior solid waste engineer and principal town clerks of the five divisions.
According to Tokoma, the six firms should be paid according to work orders and not on a monthly basis, as stipulated in the initial contract.
But one of the garbage collectors said the contract was binding as they had already paid a “supervision fee†of sh2m to KCC.
Engineer Maurice Kairania was asked to deliver his input and that of the principal town clerks before the end of the day. Town clerk Ruth Kijjambu, who was reportedly attending a meeting at State House, was expected to meet the garbage collectors later. Kampala Extra Police chief Edward Ochom asked the protesters to abstain from violence.
The 20 trucks, which lined Kimathi Avenue from dawn, had caused a huge traffic jam by 10:00am. A nasty stench wafted off the garbage, while a green liquid oozed out of the trucks, forming unsightly rivulets on the tarmac.
The 30 uniformed garbage collectors were not bothered. As motorists maneuvered through the narrow space, they remained at the gate, insisting to have an audience with KCC officials.
The workers represented six firms under the Waste Management Association of Uganda - Nabugabo Updeal Joint Venture, Norema Services, Hilltop, Homeklin, Tesco and Esscom, curved out of Mayor Nasser Sebaggala’s supporters. They claimed sh2.2b for the entire contract, which is ending on December 1.
“Waste collection is vital to keeping Kampala city clean,†read a placard pasted on one of the trucks.
“I have been working for months but I have not received a coin,†John Okullo from Nabugabo Updeal Joint Venture said.
“Hajji†Dalawusi from the same company claimed KCC had failed to pay him for one year of service.
According to Abudala Mubiru of Esscom, it would be an uphill task trying to get their money once the Commonwealth Summit is over, later this month.
The companies reportedly signed a contract with KCC in the middle of 2007 to collect garbage from the city and its suburbs between July and December 1.
However, the local government ministry, which was supposed to finance the project, pulled out, leaving the city authorities at a crossroads.
Jittery company leaders later yesterday met with KCC officials. Health secretary Caesar Tokoma asked the team to formalise the initial contract before the arrears could be paid. According to Tokoma, the contract should have been amended after the local government ministry pulled out.
City advocate Karungonjo said at the meeting that the contract lacked the input of the senior solid waste engineer and principal town clerks of the five divisions.
According to Tokoma, the six firms should be paid according to work orders and not on a monthly basis, as stipulated in the initial contract.
But one of the garbage collectors said the contract was binding as they had already paid a “supervision fee†of sh2m to KCC.
Engineer Maurice Kairania was asked to deliver his input and that of the principal town clerks before the end of the day. Town clerk Ruth Kijjambu, who was reportedly attending a meeting at State House, was expected to meet the garbage collectors later. Kampala Extra Police chief Edward Ochom asked the protesters to abstain from violence.