MUKONO: Mukono District Local Government, in partnership with the Ministry of Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs, has held a capacity-building engagement on inclusion, non-discrimination, and labour compliance for contractors implementing World Bank-funded infrastructure projects under the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area Urban Development Programme (GKMA-UDP).
The meeting, held on Tuesday at the District Headquarters in Mukono, brought together project implementers, including Ardent, CREG, Hersun Consultants, MBJ, and Continuum Engineering Limited. The session focused on enforcing strict inclusion standards, safeguarding workers’ rights, and establishing robust grievance management systems for the Ntenjeru–Bule Road Phase II and Kisakombe Swamp projects.
Key Workplace Standards and Non-Discrimination
Facilitator Richard Ssebaggala urged contractors to ensure total transparency during recruitment, emphasizing that workers must fully understand their contracts before signing.
“There must be equal access to employment opportunities. Contractors must clearly explain job assignments to prevent misunderstandings and guard against discrimination,” Ssebaggala noted, adding that site workers should be sensitized on codes of conduct and available toll-free grievance helplines.
Mandatory Codes of Conduct and Community Engagement
Mukono District Community Development Officer, Ms. Minisa Kirya Namukose, instructed contractors to strengthen community-level grievance handling mechanisms and maintain total transparency with public project data.
She directed that all project personnel sign mandatory codes of conduct, with completed records submitted through the Ministry to the World Bank.
Enforcing Workers’ Welfare and Labour Compliance
GKMA-UDP Social Development Specialist, Mr. Lameka Sseryazi, issued directives regarding site conditions, warning contractors that worker exploitation will not be tolerated.
Key directives issued to contractors include:
* Contract Reviews: All employment contracts must be reviewed by Ardent to ensure full alignment with national labour laws.
* Timely Remuneration: Contractors must pay workers’ wages on time and submit verified monthly wage payment reports for ongoing monitoring.
* Essential Welfare: Project sites must provide standard welfare amenities, including clean drinking water, adequate meals, shelter, and basic health and safety provisions.
* Stakeholder Logs: Implementation teams must maintain and submit monthly logs documenting community and stakeholder engagements.
The joint initiative underscores efforts to ensure that vulnerable and marginalized groups in Mukono District actively participate in and benefit from major urban infrastructure investments without exclusion or bias.
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