Police and rescue teams have recovered two bodies from the rubble of a building that collapsed on Kisota Road in Kisaasi, Kawempe Division, as concerns grow over illegal construction practices in Kampala.
The three-storey structure came crashing down on Friday afternoon at around 2:00 p.m., trapping several workers who were at the site during ongoing construction works.
Authorities confirmed that at least nine people sustained serious injuries and were rushed to Mulago National Referral Hospital for treatment, while rescue teams continued searching through the debris amid fears that more victims could still be trapped underneath.
The deceased were identified as James, commonly known as Rasta, and Jonathan Kivumbi, who reportedly served as the site supervisor.
Officials from Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) said preliminary findings indicate that the building had been erected without proper authorization and had earlier been flagged for violating construction standards.
Speaking at the scene, KCCA Director of Engineering and Technical Services, Eng. Justus Akankwasa, said the collapse appeared to have resulted from a structural failure commonly referred to as a “pancake collapse,” where floors cave in directly onto each other until the entire structure falls.
According to Akankwasa, investigations suggest that weak columns and substandard construction materials may have contributed to the disaster.
“The initial assessment shows that the building suffered a pancake-type collapse where one floor gives way onto another until the structure completely fails,” he said.
He explained that such incidents normally occur when the vertical support columns are either poorly designed or constructed using weak materials that cannot sustain the weight of additional floors.
Akankwasa further revealed that KCCA had halted construction works on the site in April after inspectors found that the developers had failed to comply with required building standards.
However, authorities allege that construction continued secretly, mainly during night hours, despite enforcement notices and stop orders issued by the city authority.
“They continued adding floors without approval. The building did not meet the standards required under the building control process,” he added.
The engineer warned that pancake collapses are among the deadliest forms of structural failure because they leave almost no survivable spaces for occupants trapped inside.
“If columns remain partially intact, some voids can be created where victims may survive. But in this case, the structure collapsed almost completely,” he explained.
Akankwasa also blamed the incident on the absence of professional supervision at the construction site, saying approved projects are normally monitored by qualified architects, engineers, and inspectors throughout the construction process.
“When developers follow the approved procedures and engage certified professionals, cases of collapse are minimized because every stage is inspected,” he said.
Kampala Lord Mayor Eng. Ronald Balimwezo called for thorough investigations into the tragedy and demanded accountability from both the developers and any KCCA officials who may have failed to enforce the law.
Balimwezo urged professional bodies, including engineers, architects, and the Building Review Board, to take interest in the matter in order to curb the increasing cases of unsafe buildings in Kampala.
“This issue must be investigated fully so that families affected can get justice and those responsible are held accountable,” he said.
One of the survivors, Michael Kabugo, narrated how he narrowly escaped death after being trapped beneath the rubble.
Kabugo said he had been working on the upper floor removing timber supports beneath a concrete slab moments before the building suddenly gave way.
“I was on the top floor removing the supports when the building suddenly collapsed,” he said after returning to the scene from Mulago Hospital.
Because he was positioned on the upper section of the structure, Kabugo said he fell together with the collapsing building before rescuers managed to pull him out with minor injuries.
Despite his injuries, he later returned to the scene in search of his brother, who was still believed to be trapped under the debris.
KCCA Executive Director Hajjat Sharifah Buzeki said the authority would take action against everyone found culpable, including the developer, supervising engineers, and any KCCA staff who neglected their duties.
She also pledged support for the affected families and injured victims.
“We shall ensure accountability, but we shall also stand with the families during this difficult time,” Buzeki said.
According to KCCA, the authority will contribute financial assistance toward burial arrangements for the deceased and provide support to survivors receiving treatment.
Meanwhile, Kawempe Division Mayor Emanuel Sserunjogi renewed calls for the decentralization of building supervision powers, arguing that division authorities should be given direct control over monitoring construction projects within their areas.
Sserunjogi said centralized enforcement under City Hall often delays quick intervention against illegal developments.
Residents and workers around the site alleged that the developer, identified only as Jingo, had failed to maintain proper safety procedures at the construction site.
It was also discovered that there was no workers’ registration book at the site, making it difficult for authorities to establish the exact number of people who may have been inside the building at the time of the collapse.
By Saturday evening, rescue operations were still ongoing as security personnel, engineers, and emergency responders continued combing through the debris amid fears that more victims could still be trapped underneath.
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