Mbale City — Authorities and rescue teams in eastern Uganda are racing against time following the collapse of a storage building in Namakwekwe Ward, Northern City Division, in Mbale, where several workers are feared trapped under debris.
The incident occurred at around 2:00 a.m. along Kachumbala Lane, according to reports shared by NTV Uganda. Residents say the structure suddenly gave way in the middle of the night, sending shockwaves through the neighbourhood and prompting an immediate emergency response.
Witnesses described hearing a loud crash before rushing to the scene, only to find the building reduced to rubble. Some residents claim they had previously raised concerns about the safety of the structure, citing the use of substandard construction materials.
“I heard a loud bang and ran outside. The building had completely collapsed,” one resident said, adding that earlier warnings about the building’s condition had allegedly gone unheeded.
Emergency responders, including police and the Uganda Red Cross, were quickly dispatched to the scene. Rescue operations began shortly after a distress call was received, with teams providing first aid to the injured and searching for survivors believed to be trapped beneath the debris.
Preliminary reports indicate that multiple people were injured, while others remain unaccounted for. Some accounts suggest that workers may have been using the structure as temporary accommodation, raising fears that the number of victims could be higher.
Authorities have since launched investigations into the cause of the collapse. Early indications point to possible structural weaknesses, including poor-quality building materials and a lack of proper supervision during construction.
The incident has sparked renewed concern over building safety standards in rapidly growing urban centres like Mbale, where increased construction activity has at times outpaced regulatory enforcement.
Rescue efforts remain ongoing as of Sunday, with heavy machinery being deployed to clear the rubble and reach those still trapped. Officials say more updates will be provided as the situation develops.