Mbalala Mukono; Machine Crushes Ugandan Worker to Death at Chinese Factory

Tragedy is not yet to end at Chinese factories if the government does not does step up inspection routines of worker’s safety.

On Saturday, Felix Arindu, a machine operator at Hong Hai Wood Limited located at Mbalala Industrial Park was crushed by a faulty machine causing his instant death.

The Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson Patrick Onyango confirmed the incident saying a team of homicide crimes from Mbalala police station visited the scene of crime.

“The deceased was pulled by the belt and crushed by the machine instantly causing his death. The scene was visited and the body taken to Mulago city mortuary for postmortem examination” Oyango noted.

So far, one of the family members has claimed that they are currently mobilizing possible support to transport the body back home for burial as the factory management has been silent about the burial arrangements since the incident happened.

This website has established that besides the factory (Hong Hai Wood Limited) using faulty machines, the operators also lack body safety gear for protection despite the exposure to the hazardous working environment.

Also, the factory management does not allow labour inspections from all levels. The factory is highly guarded by armed security officers.

The hazardous working conditions are now becoming famous in many factories within Mbalala Industrial Park. The victims of industrial accidents who manage to survive sustain permanent debilitation on their bodies.

The most recent death incident at Mbalala industrial park happened at Riley packaging factory where Godfrey Egesa died. He was hit by a strong roll of raw material for boxes that fell off from an improper forklift.

Much as the districts are assigned labour officers to monitor and update government about the various working conditions of workers, in Mukono the Senior Labour Officer, Doreen Belinda only waits from her office victims of worker accidents to bring complaints and then make phones calls to the accused who turn up with brown envelopes to seal the cases.

No wonder, many victims of industrial accidents at Mukono have failed to get fair justice.