Dr. Abubaker Matovu Waswa (R) Head, Department of Computer and Communications Engineering at Makerere University, emphasized the importance of the training in promoting workplace safety.
In response to Uganda’s growing workplace safety concerns, the staff at the College of Engineering, Design, Art, and Technology (CEDAT) participated in an Occupational Safety, Health, and Environment (OSHE) training workshop on 4th June 2025. The workshop was aimed at increasing awareness and improving adherence to safety standards in professional and academic environments.
The workshop, organized by the School of Engineering within CEDAT, was part of a larger effort led by the OSHE Centers of Excellence, an initiative launched at Makerere, Kyambogo, and Busitema Universities on May 4, 2023. This programme seeks to enhance workplace safety education, with a focus on hazard prevention, PPE usage, risk mitigation, and integrating OSHE principles into engineering curricula and industrial practices.
Speaking at the training, Dr. Abubaker Matovu Waswa, Head – Department of Computer and Communications Engineering at Makerere University, emphasized the importance of the training which was aimed at creating awareness about the need for the College, the University and the industry to proactively plan for safety at their respective places of work. It was indicated that Uganda was faced by alarming workplace injury rates, with over 25,000 workers suffering from job-related injuries annually, yet fatality statistics remain largely unreported.
Dr. Abubaker Matovu Waswa highlighted the urgent need for OSHE integration in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), pointing out that 99% of engineering and science graduates enter the workforce without formal safety training. This lack of preparedness has led industries to withdraw internship placements, fearing liability if trainees suffer injuries or fatalities while on the job, he noted. He reported that so far, the engineering curricula within Makerere, Kyambogo and Busitema Universities have been revised to include an OSHE course unit that must be done by all undergraduate engineering students before they graduate.
The Workshop participants were urged to recognize that OSHE was not just about industrial safety, but extends to health, environmental hazards, and workplace well-being. They warned that the absence of enforcement mechanisms has led to rising cases of respiratory and other health related diseases due to exposure to toxic materials, musculoskeletal disorders caused by poor ergonomic workstations and repetitive tasks, Noise-induced hearing loss, skin disorders, and chemical poisoning from unsafe working conditions as well as mental health disorders and workplace stress, which often go unnoticed but have serious effects on worker productivity and well-being.
Weak OSHE enforcement and lack of institutional commitment were identified as factors facilitating the challenge at hand. Despite Uganda’s Occupational Safety and Health Act, enforcement remained inconsistent, and many organizations fail to prioritize worker safety. The participants were informed that 82% of industrial workplaces do not provide workers with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), leaving employees vulnerable to accidents. Furthermore, many businesses operate without safety officers or budget allocations for OSHE programmes, exposing workers to hazardous conditions.
In Makerere University, concerns were raised over the absence of a dedicated OSHE office, prompting calls for stronger institutional commitment towards workplace safety. Experts stressed that overlooking OSHE policies was more costly in the long run with hidden costs like lost productivity, reputational damage, legal fees and compensation claims which could be 300% more expensive than upfront safety investments.
In terms of recommendations and action points, the participants at the workshop stressed the need to strengthen OSHE in workplaces and academic institutions. This included the integration of OSHE into the university-wide curricula, ensuring all students understand PPE usage, hazard identification, risk assessment and safety protocols before entering the workforce. Also suggested, was the establishment of the hazard registers and risk assessment strategies to identify and mitigate workplace dangers proactively, conducting accident investigations to determine root causes and prevent future occurrences as well as institutionalizing OSHE as a core business value. This is aimed at ensuring that employers take responsibility for worker safety through structured policies, supervision, and regular training. For the industry, it was proposed that they enforce mandatory OSHE policies, including routine safety inspections, toolbox talks, and emergency response plans.
The experts at the training workshop reiterated that OSHE must not be treated as an afterthought, but rather as an essential component of their daily lives for worker protection, productivity, and long-term sustainability.
Written by
Musinguzi Harriet, Principal Communication Officer, CEDAT