Nsamba died last night at Mulago hospital and this morning, colleagues carried his body to KCCA Kawempe Division headquarters demanding that KCCA meets the burial arrangements.
The workers say KCCA has not made any communication as to why they haven’t been paid yet they are still working, sweeping the streets, desilting drainages, and collecting garbage in the city.
Sulaiman Kayongo, the head of garbage loaders says that several of their colleagues are struggling to survive amidst nonpayment. He is afraid many might suffer mental breakdowns due to stress for nonpayment and lack of job security.
Another casual worker, Ssalongo Joseph Katende says their supervisors demand that they turn up for work every day and yet don’t address their salary demands. He adds that when they ask for payment of their salary arrears, they are instead asked to quit if they no longer want to work. Katende says Nsamba had lost accommodation and sought shelter in a ramshackle structure in Lusanja due to lack of money to rent a decent home.
The workers are dismayed that KCCA has failed to pay them despite their salary being so meager. They earn between Shs 150,000 and Shs 180,000. They narrated how they work under hard conditions cleaning drainages without proper protective gear but continue soldiering on in pursuit of better livelihood.
The contracts of these casual workers expired on 15th September 2021 but they have continued to work since this is not the first time they have experienced lapses in contract renewals.
However, they are skeptical this time round as another company called 7 Hills is competing with them to do the city cleaning job. They don’t know if KCCA has laid them off since there has been no communication.
Ashraf Jjuuko, the acting chairman of the Kawempe Division Community Saccos says KCCA should pay all workers and also pronounce itself on their contracts.
KCCA acting spokesperson, Juliet Bukirwa says that they are in touch with the family of the deceased and shall extend all the necessary support and that his salary arrears shall be extended to his family.
Asked if all casual workers shall be paid despite their contract having expired since they are still being made to work by the supervisors, Bukirwa said she needs to make more consultation. But she says KCCA is working to streamline contracts of casual workers. KCCA offered to transport Nsamba’s body to his burial grounds in Mubende.
