The Government has called for a broader approach to workplace safety, warning that efforts to protect workers can no longer focus solely on preventing physical injuries but must also address mental health, climate-related risks and other emerging workplace threats.
The Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Lt. Gen. Henry Tumukunde Kakurugu, said Uganda’s economic transformation and growth ambitions depend heavily on ensuring that workers operate in safe, healthy and inclusive environments.
Tumukunde made the remarks ahead of the inaugural East African Community Occupational Safety and Health (EAC OSH) Conference, scheduled for August 27 and 28, 2026, at the Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala.
The conference will be held under the theme, “Building Resilient and Inclusive Workplaces for the Formal and Informal Economy.”
The minister said occupational safety and health should be regarded as a central pillar of productivity and economic development rather than simply a matter of regulatory compliance.
“Every worker that has reported to work must move back home safely,” Tumukunde said, urging employers, employees and government regulators to make workplace safety a daily responsibility.
He noted that occupational safety and health concerns cut across virtually all sectors of the economy, making it necessary for stakeholders to adopt stronger and more coordinated measures to protect workers.
Tumukunde said the government has in recent years intensified efforts to strengthen Uganda’s occupational safety and health framework, including amendments to the Occupational Safety and Health Act in 2025.
He said regulations and guidelines to support the implementation of the amended law are currently being finalised.
According to the minister, the government has also increased workplace inspections and registration while expanding public awareness campaigns through training sessions, radio, television, social media and other communication platforms.
More than 4,000 workers, employers and members of the public were sensitised on occupational safety and health issues during the last financial year, he said.
The government is also working to establish a national occupational safety and health profile to provide an official baseline on workplace injuries and accidents.
Tumukunde said the initiative is expected to generate more reliable data to guide policymaking, enforcement and interventions aimed at reducing accidents and other workplace-related risks.
He warned that the consequences of workplace accidents extend beyond injured workers and their families, affecting employers, businesses and the wider economy through lost productivity and increased financial costs.
The minister called for closer collaboration among employers, business leaders, policymakers, occupational safety professionals, workers and other stakeholders in promoting decent work and safer working environments.
The inaugural regional conference is expected to examine a range of emerging occupational safety and health concerns, including environmental, social and governance issues, regulatory compliance, climate-related risks, psychological wellbeing and mental health, industrial safety and fire prevention.
Tumukunde said the conference would provide an important platform for countries in the East African Community to exchange experiences, share best practices and develop practical strategies for improving workplace safety and health across both the formal and informal sectors.
The EAC OSH Conference will take place on August 27 and 28 at the Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala, with Tumukunde expected to attend as the Guest of Honour.
