Tears rolled and shock filled China Chan Jiang Steel and Iron factory in greater Kampala when the steel rolling machine crashed its operator, Martin Kayanga 26, to death. The Friday morning incident occurred at Buwonzi village, along the Sanga-Semuto road.
Kayanga’s workmates have told police that their colleague slid and fell into a rolling machine that he was operating thus prematurely ending his life. Although there was panic to stop the rolling machine, it was too late as Kayanga had already crashed to death.
The doctors at Mulago hospital where he was rushed with the hope of resuscitating his life just confirmed that he was long dead. Luke Owoyesigyire, the deputy Kampala metropolitan police spokesperson, said his officers went to the scene after receiving the information about the incident.
“The police responded swiftly to the incident and upon arrival at the scene, [they] found that the victim had already been removed from the machine. The crime scene was documented, photographed, and swabs were collected from the roller machine, along with the suspected remains of the deceased, as part of the ongoing investigations,” Owoyesigyire said.
Police have assured the public that the factory is fully cooperating with investigators to unravel the circumstances that led to Kayanga’s tragic end. The workers and the entire public around the factory have been urged to remain calm as detectives add pieces together to establish the facts surrounding the demise.
On several occasions, workers in the factories have appeared on TV crying foul for the mistreatment, unpaid wages, sexual harassment, and exploitations by their bosses, especially the Chinese, and Indians.
The media has reported numerous stories of people who have died in the factories but they never get compensated including those who have lost their body parts such as arms and legs. Ugandan labour laws have largely remained on paper as many people go uncompensated for the lifetime injuries inflicted on their bodies while families of the deceased live in misery.