It is alleged that Maka was fixing recycled paper in a conveyor machine that trapped him injuring his hands and head. A conveyor is machine transports material and other finished goods from one point in the factory to another.
Police in Jinja are
investigating circumstances under, which 17-year-old Fred Maka died while on
duty at Paper and pulp company-Papco on Monday night.
It is alleged that Maka was
fixing recycled paper in a conveyor machine that trapped him injuring his hands
and head. A conveyor is machine transports material and other finished goods from one
point in the factory to another.
He was rushed to Jinja Regional Referral Hospital
emergency clinic where doctors pronounced him dead on arrival. His sister, Bayat
Namulondo, says it was Maka’s colleague who broke the news of his death to the
family at night.
According to Namulondo,
the factory management hasn’t yet explained the circumstances surrounding Maka’s
death.
//Cue in: “nabade…
Cue out…muto,”
Christine Achan, an employee at the factory says the deceased was working
during the night shift the factory suffered a power blackout and the conveyor
grabbed him immediately.
//Cue in: “babade…
Cue out…naafa,”.
Rebecca Namusabi, the Eastern Region coordinator of Uganda Textiles, Garments,
Leather and Allied Workers Union says a meeting was held involving different
family members and factory administrators who agreed to foot the funeral
expense and compensate the deceased’s next of kin after burial.
She also says at
least 70 casual laborers from the different factories in Jinja district have
approached her over poor working conditions in a period of six months.
//Cue in: “Terms and conditions…
Cue out…not the case,”//
Diana Nandawula, the Kiira Region Police spokesperson has confirmed the
incident, saying a postmortem was carried out and the body handed to the
deceased’s family for burial as investigations continue.
Mohammed Kimbowa, the
Assistant Human Resource Officer at Papco, declined to comment, saying the matter
is being handled by police and the factory management.