Thousands of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) front line workers, mostly cleaners and related staff, from the five Kampala divisions on Wednesday gathered at Kololo independence grounds to be celebrated and appreciated for their work.
The grounds were flooded with frontliners including garbage collectors, toilet cleaners, sweepers, slashers, drainage cleaners and gardeners’ among others.
Large numbers were ferried in locally assembled electric Tondeka buses from Nakawa, Rubaga, Makindye, Kawempe and Central Divisions of Kampala. The casual labourers each received two kilograms of posho and were spoiled with a surplus of food and drinks amidst excitement.
The engagement was organized to address key issues affecting the frontliners like salary arrears, minimal or no pay for others and lack of necessary equipment to do their duties among others.
The KCCA Executive Director Dorothy Kisaka promised the group of over 4000 people that the authority will provide Personal Protective Equipment PPEs including overalls, gloves and gumboots for workers to use. She said the PPEs will be sent to the respective division offices of their respective town clerks starting Monday 17th October 2022.
However, some KCCA workers were concerned that because they are not contracted to work, or earn no salary, they would not receive the equipment.
Some of the labourers complained that they are earning only 250.000 shillings monthly yet this money cannot cater for all basic needs like rent, education for children and proper feeding. They want KCCA to increase their salaries to at least 450000 shillings per month.
They also want KCCA to offer them contracts in order to earn salaries officially and in time.
The KCCA ED hesitated to make any promises as regards to salaries of the casual labourers stating that she would relay their demands to the technical team at the authority. She mentioned that KCCA is not aware of the exact number of labourers and that government operates through bureaucracies.
“I don’t want to promise the impossible, we shall go back to the drawing board and access the numbers. But you also know government works through policy,” she said.
Salim Uhuru, the Kampala Central Division mayor who also represented the Minister for Kampala and Metropolitan Affairs Hajjat Minsa Kabanda asked KCCA to resolve whatever it is that delays workers’ salaries and hence pay them on time.
The Minister also asked KCCA to undertake the necessary procedures to increase salaries for the casual laborers.
The 7 Hills group rose to fame earlier last year 2021 as volunteers helping KCCA casual laborers to keep the city clean especially through de-silting drainage channels. Initially marketed as a group of former thugs and sex workers seeking to reform, it soon expanded, registering more people outside the known category.
The group later started agitating for employment, causing tension among KCCA casual laborers who operated under SACCOs established at the five divisions of Kampala. Conflict ensued between the two groups as laborers collided while on assignments.
compiled by Minah Nalule
