Trust between employers and employees will strengthen workplace safety — Museveni

KAMPALA - President Yoweri Museveni has urged employers to build trust with their employees because this will strengthen workplace safety and, in turn, protect workers' rights.

According to Museveni, every worker has the right to return home to their family safe and healthy at the end of each day.

The President says preventable workplace accidents and occupational diseases have been accepted as an inevitable cost of doing business, especially in developing economies, but this narrative must change.

Vision Zero—a transformational approach to prevention that integrates the three dimensions of safety, health and well-being at all levels of work—, Museveni says, is not a utopian dream, but a practical, achievable philosophy built on the fundamental principle that no loss of life or injury at the workplace is acceptable.

To achieve this, Museveni stresses that employers, workers and communities must be vigilant by reporting hazards, following safety procedures, and respecting agreed-upon standards.

“Where there is trust, compliance grows, and where compliance grows, accidents are reduced. Workplaces must stop shortcuts in pursuit of quick profits, because this short-term thinking, which undermines worker well-being, leads to reputational loss and eventually cripples businesses,” he said.

He made the remarks during the third International Vision Zero Africa Conference 2025, organised by ISSA International section on prevention in mining at Speke Resort Munyonyo on Wednesday, August 27, 2025.

The conference, held under the theme: From commitment to action: “Realising vision zero in Africa” focused on addressing the pressing need for responsible leadership and sustainable practices in the mining industry and beyond.

The meeting that brought together experts and stakeholders from around the World, including Nigeria, South Africa, India, Zambia and other representatives from government ministries, departments and agencies, development partners, discussed and shared best practices related to occupational safety and health.

This theme, according to Museveni, is both timely and significant because Africa is on the path of rapid industrialisation, but none of this progress should come at the cost of human lives or health.

“This meeting reaffirms Uganda’s commitment to the improvement of the safety, health and well-being of Uganda’s workforce, a key driver of economic development. We should continue to prioritise education and skills development, in order to create a knowledgeable and skilled workforce.”

To ensure workers' safety, Museveni said, the National Resistance Movement(NRM), government continues to put in place policies, programs, and legislation that promote occupational safety and public health.

“Safety must not be viewed as a burden or a cost, but as an investment in human capital, productivity and national growth. With the right mental attitude towards safety, Africa’s workforce can achieve unprecedented levels of productivity and competitiveness.”

Museveni’s speech was delivered by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja.

Stakeholders during the third International Vision Zero Africa conference 2025 at Speke Resort Munyonyo on August 27, 2025. (Credit: Juliet Kasirye)

10-fold growth strategy

“In Uganda, we have embarked on a journey towards a 10-fold growth strategy under the Fourth National Employment Plan. Based on our 2025 Occupational Safety and Health Act, which was amended in 2025, we have issued guidelines to all sector industries on what they need to do at the local government level to monitor, enforce and coordinate these regulations,” gender, labour and social development minister Betty Amongi said.

To ensure that every worker returns home safely at the end of the day, Amongi pledged to prioritise public safety, access to information and collaboration with the International Labour Organisation.

Emphasising that, in situations, where a worker is injured or experiences any occupational safety related issues, they will protect, support and uphold their rights.

According to the National Labour Force Survey report of 2021, 35% of Uganda's workers are exposed to various workplace hazards while only 23% are provided with the necessary protective gear.

“In the 12 months preceding that survey, the staggering 898,000 workers had experienced workplace accidents or injuries of which 357,000 were considered serious.

These are not mere statistics, they represent individuals, families and communities impacted by preventable incidents at the workplace,” gender ministry permanent secretary Aggrey Kibenge said.

Kibenge told the delegates that the conference not only gives stakeholders an opportunity to strengthen their national occupational safety and health policies but also deepens awareness and fosters the prevention culture.

Uganda National Vision Zero Ambassador Allen Kagina said, “the theme challenges us to do more than speak promises. It is a call to transform commitments into practical measurable actions that save lives and protect workers”.