KAMPALA — At least nine people have been rescued and rushed to hospital after a building under construction collapsed in Kisota Zone, Kibaaye Parish, Kawempe Division on Friday afternoon, leaving an unknown number of people feared trapped beneath the rubble.
The collapse occurred at around 3:00 p.m. while construction work was ongoing, triggering a major rescue operation involving police, emergency responders, and local residents.
According to Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson SP Racheal Kawala, rescue teams responded swiftly to the scene and successfully pulled nine survivors from the debris.
“The injured victims were evacuated to nearby health facilities for medical treatment,” SP Kawala said, adding that search and rescue efforts remained ongoing.
Authorities have not yet established how many people were inside the structure when it collapsed, and it remains unclear whether there were fatalities.
“We are still conducting search and rescue operations to establish whether there are more people trapped under the rubble,” Kawala said.
Rescue Efforts Intensified
Emergency responders spent hours combing through the wreckage as anxious relatives and residents gathered near the scene awaiting news of missing workers.
The operation has been complicated by heavy concrete slabs, twisted steel bars, and unstable sections of the collapsed structure, making access to deeper parts of the site difficult.
Police have cordoned off the area to facilitate rescue efforts and prevent additional injuries, while heavy machinery has been deployed to assist in removing debris.
Rescuers are proceeding cautiously amid concerns that further movement of the rubble could endanger both survivors and emergency personnel.
Police Launch Investigation
Police have opened investigations into the cause of the collapse, with preliminary inquiries focusing on possible structural defects, poor workmanship, non-compliance with approved building plans, or other construction-related failures.
Authorities are also working to identify and trace the site supervisor, contractors, and other individuals connected to the project to assist with investigations.
A comprehensive technical assessment is expected once rescue operations are concluded.
Renewed Questions Over Construction Safety
The incident has once again raised concerns about building safety standards in Kampala, where several construction-related disasters have occurred in recent years.
Experts have frequently cited poor engineering practices, weak enforcement of building regulations, and the use of substandard materials as key factors behind many structural failures.
Authorities have repeatedly urged developers, contractors, and property owners to adhere to approved engineering designs and safety requirements to protect workers and the public.
As rescue operations continue into the evening, families of missing workers remain at the scene hoping for positive news while emergency teams race against time to locate any survivors trapped beneath the collapsed structure.
