BY M FAHAD
More than one hundred road sweepers in the Kawempe division have endured at least five months without receiving payment from the division, according to reports from the Daily Press.
Several sweepers, who spoke anonymously to this publication, revealed that whenever they inquire about their unpaid wages, their supervisors intimidate them, expel them from WhatsApp groups, and subsequently replace them with others.
Daily Press understands that a sweeper in Kawempe is supposed to earn 160,000 shillings while supervisors should receive 360,000 shillings. However, deductions leave sweepers with around 120,000 shillings and supervisors with approximately 290,000 shillings.
These sweepers report to their cleaning sites at 06:00 am every morning and on top of that work under hard conditions cleaning drainages without proper protective gear but continue soldiering on in pursuit of better livelihood, unfortunately, their sweat is casually taken for granted.
Many have been evicted from their rented accommodations due to unpaid rent, leaving them homeless, while others struggle to feed their children. They hope that KCCA and specifically Kawempe division will show empathy and rescue them from their dire situation.
Daily press understands that these workers are paid through Saccos, but it’s alleged that while KCCA releases funds to these Saccos, leaders divert the money for personal gain and lend it to city tycoons, neglecting the workers’ needs.
It should however be noted that this is not the first time city cleaners have spent months without earning a penny. In 2021, these cleaners in Kawempe today staged a peaceful protest over the nonpayment of their salary for September and October 2021.
The protest in Kawempe was triggered by the death of their colleague; Sam Lugya Nsamba who fainted last week while on duty sweeping Buwambo road in Mpererwe. Nsamba died at Mulago Hospital.
The workers narrated that KCCA had 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.
Some of these cleaners are now afraid that many might suffer mental breakdowns due to stress from nonpayment and lack of job security because when they ask for payment of their salary arrears, they are instead asked to quit if they no longer want to work.
Last year, Dorothy Kisaka, Executive Director of the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), announced engagements with two cleaning groups, Community Saccos, and 7 Hills, to manage cleaning tasks.