By Alice K
Street parking attendants, loaders, and offloaders in Fort Portal have yesterday laid down their tools and held a peaceful demonstration over unpaid arrears from their contractor.
According to Shafic Kyaligonza, they began working with Zwitch Arimah Uganda Limited, the company responsible for street parking collection, in March this year. However, they have faced challenges, including delayed salaries and other grievances.
Workers present grievances
Kyaligonza stated that workers who are supposed to receive 160,000 shillings per month have only been receiving 5,000 shillings, while those expected to earn 200,000 shillings have been given 100,000 shillings, without clear explanations.
Michael Businge, another worker, vowed they will not resume work until their arrears are paid. He explained that since October, they have not received their salaries, and their supervisors have been silent, only offering 30,000 shillings as a Christmas token.
Edison Abigaba, the assistant supervisor of Zwitch Arimah Uganda Limited in Fort Portal City, explained that some deductions were made from workers’ payments due to incomplete submissions of street parking revenue. However, he assured that an investigation into the matter is underway.
Leaders Speak Out
Richard Muhumuza, the Mayor of Central Division, who also serves as the revenue collector, is demanding Zwitch Arimah Uganda Limited pay 94 million shillings, an outstanding amount that has affected service delivery.
Muhumuza noted that the contractor has been operating in Fort Portal without paying for the required operational license, with the one they are using registered in Hoima. He warned that if the contractor fails to pay the owed amount, the Town Clerk will be asked to terminate the contract.
In a meeting with street parking attendants, loaders, and offloaders at the public library, Tom Muhumuza, the senior labor officer of Fort Portal City, pledged to arrange a meeting tomorrow with the director of Zwitch Arimah Uganda, the assistant supervisor, and the workers to address the issue.
He plans to review workers’ payments against their work records to understand how the system has been functioning and promised to investigate cases of underpayment and mistreatment
