Background and Context 
Since the inception of the DGB-funded project in 2020, the waste sector has remained the most precarious segment among PSI affiliates in Uganda. This was further affirmed during the two-day workshop held in Kampala on 25th and 26th June 2025, which convened over 35 waste workers, including sweepers, garbage loaders, cesspool and drainage workers, along with representatives from the water, electricity sectors and the National Organisation of Trade Unions (NOTU). 

Please respect us, we are workers like everyone else. Many of us have degrees, but we clean because there are no formal jobs. 

Overview of Worker Testimonies 
Participants candidly shared the risky and unsafe working conditions they work in, revealing severe violations of decent work standards and highlighting the need for urgent policy and institutional reforms. 

• Wages and Payment Delays 
  Most waste workers earn as little as UGX 6,000 per day (less than $2 USD), with payments often delayed for up to three months. Workers cited the absence of a transparent payment mechanism, compounded by corruption in SACCOs and KCCA, who handle their salaries. 

• Lack of Contracts and Job Security 
  Many workers have served as casual labourers for over 10-20 years without formal appointment letters or contracts. Short-term contracts (one-year or less) foster job insecurity and deny them legal protections. Verbal terminations are commonplace, leaving workers without recourse. 

• Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Hazards 
  Workers lack Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs); the last provision was two years ago. Women reported collecting waste with bare hands, carrying loads on their shoulders due to lack of wheelbarrows. Numerous occupational injuries, including chemical burns, tetanus from sharp objects, and even fatalities, were reported. No medical insurance is provided, and medical bills are borne out-of-pocket. One worker recalled developing a blood clot after a road accident while sweeping; another lost teeth. Snake bites, exposure to stray dogs, and lack of washroom facilities further compound risks, especially for women. 

• Working Conditions and Hours 
  Workers endure seven-day workweeks with no rest days or daily allowances. During the 2023 NAM summit, workers laboured from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. without meals. Others work in underground drainage channels, even retrieving dead bodies, with no risk compensation. Night shift workers operate without security or lighting. One cesspool worker recounted being forced into hiding after damaging a car during trench work—KCCA denied liability, demanding UGX 5,000,000 from the worker. 

• Gender-Based Violence and Harassment 
  Female workers face routine sexual harassment from male colleagues and the public. Many are widows or single mothers. One woman movingly pleaded, “Please respect us, we are workers like everyone else. Many of us have degrees, but we clean because there are no formal jobs.” 

• Social Protection Gaps 
  NSSF deductions are made but never remitted. No health check-ups or insurance are offered. In the event of injury or death, no compensation is provided. Fellow workers often contribute to assist injured colleagues. Burial and medical expenses are left to the workers or their families. 

• Union Representation and Employer Ambiguity 
  A recurring theme was the ambiguity around the actual employer. KCCA subcontracts SACCOs, yet still administers employment actions like terminations. This allows them to deny employer responsibilities, violating principles of decent work. Despite being taxed (PAYE and VAT), workers questioned the rationale given their low incomes. 

• Mental and Social Stress 
  Many workers are homeless, sleeping in dumpsites. Supervisors are reportedly abusive, with no complaint mechanisms in place. Some workers are labeled as political opposition for speaking out about poor conditions. 

Positive Developments and Gains 
Despite the bleak situation, workers acknowledged some improvements, including reduced salary arrears (from 6 months to 2-3 months) under the new KCCA Executive Director. A one-year contract secured in the previous year was also seen as a step forward. 

Media Engagement and Advocacy Outcomes 
During press briefings workers shared their lived experiences—calling on the government, trade unions, and PSI to ensure enforcement of ILO conventions, Uganda’s Employment and OSH Acts, and basic dignity at work. 

Commitments and Way Forward 
Union leaders and NOTU pledged to: 

• Address non-remittance of NSSF.

• Advocate for standard contracts and improved pay. 

• Demand provision of PPEs and medical insurance. 

• Hold KCCA accountable as the primary employer. 

• Campaign for a formal recognition framework for waste workers .

PSI was applauded for its continued support in spotlighting the invisible labour of waste workers and reinforcing the value of unionisation in challenging systemic neglect. 

Conclusion 
This meeting not only amplified the voice of the most marginalized public sector workers but also laid a foundation for a sustained campaign to restore dignity and rights in the waste management sector. It is imperative that the pledges made are implemented with urgency and accountability, for justice delayed is justice denied.