Gov't owes injured workers sh5.7b

KAMPALA - As many as 205 government employees who got injured during their work have not yet been compensated.

And the total amount that government owes them as compensation is sh5.78b, according to Enid Nambuya, the Platform for Labour Action (PLA) board chairperson.

While some had their fingers nipped off and limbs broken, others inhaled very toxic components in line of duty, causing permanent bodily harm.

It is understood these people have been waiting for their compensation for years.

Douglas Nkonge signing the report on workers compensation rights shortly after its launch on Wednesday. (Credit: Shamim Saad)

"A number [of the workers] have pursued their compensations till they have had to give up," Nabunya said without giving details.

It is estimated that an average of 2,000 cases of work-related accidents are reported annually in Uganda (according to an ILO report) mainly in the areas of construction, factories, security and transport and commercial agriculture.

"This is unfair to the sons and daughters who dedicate their lives to serving the country, but when they are incapacitated, they struggle and there is a lot of redtape to help them through their plight," added.

This was during a launch of a report by the non-governmental organisation (PLA) on assessment of labour laws and employee compensation in the country at Protea Hotel.