"State agency plans probe into abuse of workers"

A wide-ranging inquiry into mistreatment of employees by investors is being considered as the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) plans to clamp-down on an increase in violation of workers’ rights. Mayuge Sugar Factory in Busoga is set to become the first target of the EOC, whose chairperson, Sylvia Ntambi Muwemba, recently said that there is an urgent need to protect workers from unfair treatment and ‘corporate impunity’. “We will institute an inquiry at Mayuge factory. We were made to understand that on top of having no leave and the harsh working conditions, anyone who suffers any kind of body injury was terminated instead of being compensated,” Muwemba said.

She cited the troubling case of a former worker who was given only Shs 20,000 and terminated after losing his hand in the line of duty at Mayuge sugar factory. Speaking at the launch of a report on Human Rights and Corporate Accountability...Muwemba said that the EOC will expand its inquiry to ensure that corporations involved in human rights abuse are held accountable. The report describes how Ugandans continue to suffer injustice and unfair treatment at the hands of investors. It highlights challenges of land grabbing and eviction without compensation...

In the same period, over 130 families (1,000 people) in Chawente sub-county of Apac district were forcefully evicted from their customary land – reportedly to pave way for an investor. Sylvia Namubiru Mukasa, the executive director, Legal Aid Service Providers Network (Laspnet) said that human rights defender, who take up cases of violations, are threatened, arrested, stigmatised and criminalised.