A three-storey building under construction has collapsed in Kampala, injuring several people, with several others suspected to be trapped inside. The building under construction in Kisota Zone, Kawempe North Division, collapsed from the top floor just before 1 p.m while builders were on site.
According to John Kisembo, the Kisota zone chairman, who was near the collapsed building, it caved in suddenly while several construction workers were on site. He said residents rescued at least eight workers, who were rushed to Malcolm Medical Centre in Kisasi in a Red Cross vehicle that was among the first responders at the scene.
“Those we rescued were mostly on the lower floors and were injured while running for their lives. The workers we saved said other colleagues on the upper floors are still trapped inside.” Kisembo said. He said the building had been under construction for the past eight months and work was still ongoing when it collapsed. But other residents, led by Aisha Nakanwagi, said they were still receiving phone calls from victims trapped under the rubble.
“Our children who were working here have been calling for help, but unfortunately, the fire brigade arrived first and could do nothing. We’ve been waiting for excavators from KCCA for about three hours now,” said Aisha Nakanwagi, an area councillor.
The collapse is the latest in a series of construction site failures in Kampala that have caused fatalities. By press time, the first excavator had arrived at the scene to start digging through the rubble in the search for suspected trapped victims-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
