Power connection
has stalled in Masafu Sub County, Busia district after workers of Multi-Challenge
Electrical Company protested over delayed payment of their salaries.
The company
was contracted by the Rural Electrification Agency-REA of Uganda to connect
power in the area.
On Tuesday, more than 20 casual laborers laid down tools demanding salary for
the last two months.
Nantalo
Madinah, Eriya Young, Michael Mulopa among other casual laborers say that they
have been digging electricity pole pits, loading and offloading the poles on
trucks, erecting the poles, and connecting electricity wires among others but
they are yet to receive their payment.
Voxpop
//Cue in: “Tebatusasulanga ko okuva…
Cue out…kuba
twakolera bwerere”//
Isaac Mubinze, the Director Multi-Challenge says that it takes a long process to
access the money due to the long process of sending the payment invoices to their
bosses in China.
He says that
power connection will be halted until the concerns being raised by the casual
laborers are addressed.
Luganda audio:
//Cue in:
“Twaliina briefing nabatukozesa…
Cue out…basasulwa
tuziriina”//
All the workers who were connecting the power lines in Masafu sub-county were
transported back to the company’s head office in Jinja District to address
their concerns.
Moses Oundo,
Sande Wabwire, among other residents in Masafu sub-county says that the
decision to halt the process has slowed the electricity connections in the
area.
Gabriel Mukisa
Freelancer