Dr. AbubakerWaswaMatovu (R) Head of the Department of Computer and Electronics Engineering at Makerere University, emphasized the importance of the training in promoting workplace safety.
In response to Uganda’s growing workplace safety concerns, staff at the College of Engineering, Design, Art, and Technology (CEDAT) participated in an Occupational Safety, Health, and Environment (OSHE) training session aimed at increasing awareness and improving adherence to safety standards in professional and academic environments.
The workshop, organized by the School of Engineering, 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 program 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 Waswa Matovu, Head of the Department of Computer and Electronics 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 the place 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. Matovu highlighted the urgent need for OSHE integration in higher education, 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.
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 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 remainedinconsistent, 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. Further, many businesses operate without safety officers or budget allocations for OSHE programs, 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 toward workplace safety.
Experts stressed that overlooking OSHE policies was more costly in the long run with hidden costs likelost productivity, reputational damage, legal fees, and compensation claims which could be 300 times more expensive than upfront safety investments.
In terms of recommendations and Action Points, the participants at the session stressed the need to strengthen OSHE in workplaces and academic institutions. This included the integration of OSHE into university curricula, ensuring engineering students understand PPE usage, hazard identification, and safety protocols before entering the workforce. Also suggested was theestablishing 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, 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.
Experts at the training reiterated that OSHE must not be treated as an afterthought, rather as essential for worker protection, productivity, and long-term sustainability.
Written by
Musinguzi Harriet, Principal Communication Officer, CEDAT