Gerald Mukisa Waswa,
A 19-year old Senior four vacist who was working at a factory in Mukono has been crushed to death by a paper mill.
Gerald Mukisa Waswa is said to have fallen into a paper mill at Rhino Company Limited in Kasenge B Village, Mbalala, Mukono District.
Mukisa, a recent Senior Four student from Namataba Senior Secondary School, was working as a casual laborer at the factory, hoping to earn money for his further education.
The young man, who hailed from Wataayi Village in Namataba Town Council, was employed at the factory to help fund his studies for Advanced Level next year.
However, his life was cut short when he slipped and fell into the machine at the factory.
His mother, Nalongo Annet Nakachwa, described her son as a hardworking boy who had big dreams for his future.
“I have been with him since he was a child, and I never thought I would lose him like this. He had just finished his Senior Four exams and was working to raise money for his A-Level education,” said Nakachwa, visibly distraught.
“We sent some relatives to the factory, but they were turned away, and the company insisted that only the parents could visit.”
Adding to the family’s grief, the factory offered only shs4 million to cover funeral expenses, an amount that the family says was insufficient, considering the costs of transporting the body from Mukono to Mityana District.
The family had requested or shs7 million for the burial arrangements, but their plea was rejected.
Mukisa’s father, Barnabas Mukwaaya, said the company’s response to their loss has been nothing short of heartless.
“Nothing has been achieved so far. The management is treating us poorly. Even the shs4 million they offered for the burial arrangements is not enough. They are showing no respect for our son’s death,” Mukwaaya explained.
Disturbingly, the family was reportedly chased away from the factory premises by armed security personnel before they could get answers from the company authorities regarding the incident.
Relatives have expressed frustration with the company’s behavior and the lack of empathy shown to them in their time of mourning.
Nama District Councilor Samuel Odongo raised concerns about the factory’s poor working conditions, which he says have put workers’ lives at risk.
He also highlighted the alarming issue of underage workers being employed at the factory, a practice that has led to several deaths over the years.
Odongo and other leaders have called for more stringent labor regulations to protect workers and ensure companies like Rhino do not exploit young workers.
Douglas Namujali, the Mayor of Namataba Town Council, also expressed deep regret over the company’s treatment of its employees, stressing that the situation is exacerbated by the lack of intervention from Uganda’s Ministry of Labor.
“The government needs to do more to protect workers. This tragic incident could have been prevented if proper safety measures had been in place,” Namujali said.
The tragedy has prompted wider calls for better oversight of workplaces, particularly those that hire vulnerable young workers.
The management of Rhino Company did not comment on the incident despite numerous calls.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango confirmed the incident and stated that an investigation had been launched.
The body of Gerald Mukisa is currently being kept at Mulago General Hospital’s morgue, awaiting further action.
