KAMPALA, Uganda — Neglecting basic occupational safety standards not only endangers Ugandan workers but also carries significant economic costs for businesses through lost productivity, compensation, and reputational damage, the Minister of Gender, Labour, and Social Development warned Monday.
Minister Betty Amongi, speaking at a World Day for Safety and Health at Work event at the Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI) in Namanve, emphasized that investing in safety measures and embracing technological solutions like artificial intelligence are crucial for both worker well-being and long-term business sustainability.
Amongi shared observations from recent industrial visits, noting alarmingly high noise levels without ear protection and workers handling heavy materials without protective gear. She cautioned that these conditions not only risk worker injury and disability but can also lead to significant financial burdens for employers.
“When a life is lost, someone’s livelihood is gone, but the damage goes beyond that. It harms the reputation of the company and may even lead to business closure. Compensation for injured workers also costs the company, which could have been avoided simply by providing proper safety measures,” Amongi stated.
Permanent Secretary Aggrey Kibenge echoed this sentiment, highlighting the potential of technology to mitigate these risks and improve efficiency. He noted the ministry’s early adoption of digital systems for various processes and pointed to the transformative potential of AI in predicting and preventing workplace accidents.
“We are steadily adopting AI and digitisation in our efforts to improve safety standards,” Kibenge said, encouraging businesses to embrace these technologies to create safer and more productive workplaces. He explained that AI’s ability to analyze data rapidly could identify accident patterns, and robots could handle hazardous tasks, reducing worker exposure.
Douglas Opio, Chief Executive Officer of the Federation of Uganda Employers (FUE), strongly supported the integration of technology, emphasizing its potential to enhance training effectiveness and overall workplace safety. “The potential positive impact of AI on worker safety is enormous,” Opio said. “Training is key, and AI can assist in creating more efficient and targeted programs.”
Ms. Beatrice Aciro, Deputy Chairperson of the Central Organisation of Free Trade Unions (COFTU), underscored the role of digitization in creating smarter and more responsive safety systems, ultimately reducing avoidable incidents.
Professor Charles Kwesiga, Executive Director of UIRI, stressed the importance of embedding safety considerations into the design of industrial processes and advocated for local production of personal protective equipment (PPE) to reduce reliance on imports. He also suggested incorporating ergonomics and human factors engineering into university curricula.
The event also recognized companies demonstrating excellence in occupational safety and health: Nile Breweries LTD – Jinja Plant, Uganda Breweries LTD, and Vivo Energy Uganda were lauded for overall best practices. Category winners included Wagagai LTD (Agriculture), City Ambulance (Services), Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited (Ministries, Departments and Agencies), and Vivo Energy Uganda (Energy). The top five in the industry sector were Nile Breweries LTD – Jinja Plant, Uganda Breweries LTD, Euroflex Limited, Roofings LTD, and Kenrom chemicals Uganda.
