Traffic between Masaka and Mbarara Highway has been paralyzed, after the Reynolds Construction Company workers, went on strike to protest against pay as you earn and poor working conditions.
Reynolds Construction is the company which was contracted to renovate the Masaka-Mbarara Highway.
On Tuesday morning, more than 450 road construction workers, laid down their tools, stormed the offices of their bosses located just outside Lyantonde town council, and locked their bosses inside their offices protesting against the 30% reduction from their salaries.
The striking workers including potters, drivers, and sand mixers, and casual workers drove away the heavy trucks and parked them at the offices of Reynolds Construction Company.
They threatened to take the offices ablaze over what they termed as unsanctioned deduction of their salaries without being consulted.
Traffic along the Mbarara Masaka highway was for one hour paralysed as the workers blocked the road.
Joshua Ibanda, one of the workers leaders, says a 30 percent PAYE deduction off their March salaries sparked off the anger and rage. he says the money was deducted without any consultations between the workers and the management.
Ibanda however says that he does not rule out any foul play in the way the money was deducted.
Carrying tree branches and placards, the workers complained that it was illegal to reduce their salaries, because it is little and attained through poor working conditions.
One of the priotesters, said the workers are not given protective gear. Mutebi, who mixes sand and tarmac, told URN that he earns just 100.000 and was shocked to find only 70,000 shillings deposited on his account after PAYE deductions.
Aidah Bikorendwa, the Lyantonde RDC says anti-riot police lead by Rashid Agero; the DPC swung into action and used tear gas to disperse the workers who had blocked the road. Bikorendwa says she has ordered the Management of Reynolds Construction Company, to look into the grievances of the workers.
No official from Reynolds Construction Company was available for a comment on the matter.
Management is currently holed up in a crisis meeting in their offices. Security at the offices has also been tightened. Before the workers went on straight, they had also prepared an Ash fault substance used in tarmacking. But several hips of these substances is now wasting away on the road.
Last year, these workers also went on strike and protested against poor working conditions and delayed pay.
Five workers were arrested and charged with theft of construction materials. The RCC management accused them of looting cement and fuel meant for construction of the road.
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