By Editorial
The Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Mathias Mpuuga, has asked Chinese ambassador to Uganda, Zhang Lizhong to act upon reports of alleged mistreatment of Ugandans working with Chinese companies in various parts of the country.
Mpuuga also challenged the Chinese ambassador to Uganda to prevail over Chinese investors not to degrade Uganda’s environment but work towards its protection and preservation.
Mpuuga said that the Chinese government needs to pick interest in reports of environmental degradation by Chinese investors, adding that while Chinese investments in the country are welcome, activities that degrade the environment are likely to negatively affect their projects.
Shadow Ministers, Yusuf Nsibambi (Works and Transport) and Francis Katabaazi (East African Community Affairs) among who were in Mpuuga’s company voiced their concerns about the human rights situation in some of the Chinese companies mentioning among others, poor working conditions, sexual harassment of the female workers, and eviction of locals from their lands without adequate compensation.
The MPs further wondered why some infrastructural projects such as roads are poorly done and sometimes take long to get completed.
In response, Zhang Lizhong said that while the embassy endeavors to encourage Chinese investors to respect local laws and customs, it finds challenges in reaching the privately owned companies. END.