Opposition Petition Chinese Ambassador, Over Mistreatment of Ugandan Workers

The opposition leader in Parliament Mathias Mpuuga has asked the Ambassador of China to Uganda Zhang Lizhong, to reign over Chinese construction companies which mistreat Ugandans they employ and Chinese that are fond of doing shoddy work.

This was during a curtsey visit that the Ambassador of China paid to the opposition in Parliament.

They held discussions on a number of issues of mutual relations. It’s in this engagement that the issues of mistreatment of Ugandans in Chinese-owned companies and factories were put to the ambassador of China.

The opposition beseeched the ambassador of China to reign over Chinese Investors who sexually abuse women they employ in their companies. It was also reported that some Chinese nationals are fond of impregnating Ugandan girls and abandon them without any support.

Ambassador Lizhong attributed the problem to some Chinese who came into the country and set up factories without the knowledge of the embassy which makes it hard to inspect their operations. He acknowledged that they have been getting cases of child neglect from several women and they have been trying to connect them to the runaway fathers.

The opposition also raised queries about shoddy works on several infrastructure projects done by Chinese companies plus unprecedented delays in the completion of projects.

The ambassador promised to do the needful by stepping up inspection of works especially those done by companies owned by the Chinese government to ensure they meet international standards.

The Leader of the opposition Mathias Mpuuga also put it to the notice of the ambassador that Chinese companies have contributed to environmental degradation in the country by violating environmental conservation guidelines. He also called for more employment of Ugandans in Chinese-owned companies. Saying there is less local content in the managerial positions.

Lizhong committed to doing better to improve in areas that have been lacking for the good of strengthening bilateral relations.