Teenager Killed in Factory Accident

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.

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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.

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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.

 

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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.