Earthquake: Engineers call for safer construction, stronger urban resilience

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An earthquake that rippled across several parts of the country on Sunday evening has reignited discussions among engineers and urban planners about the nation’s preparedness for seismic events and the safety of buildings under construction.

According to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD), the tremor occurred at 9:19:21pm on May 31, 2026, and was felt in a wide area stretching from Kampala and the Lake Victoria region to Lira, Apac, Gulu, Nakasongola, Masindi, Mbale and Jinja.

Preliminary analysis by the National Seismological Network indicates that the earthquake measured 4.4 on the Richter Scale.

The epicentre was located within the Lake Kyoga region, approximately 25 kilometres north of Nakasongola Town and 53 kilometres east of Masindi Port, at a relatively shallow depth of about 10 kilometres.

The Ministry said the earthquake was associated with movements along the Aswa Shear Zone (Aswa Lineament), a major geological structure that traverses parts of the country.

More than just a shake

According to the ministry, no significant damage to infrastructure, property or loss of life has been reported. However, experts say the tremor should not be dismissed simply because it was moderate in magnitude.

Although the tremor was a brief and unsettling experience for many residents, for engineers, it was a reminder that buildings must be designed to withstand forces beyond the vertical weight they carry every day.

Dr Apollo Buregyeya, a lecturer in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Makerere University and Chief Executive Officer of Eco Concrete Ltd, said earthquakes pose a unique challenge because they generate powerful horizontal forces.

“A magnitude 4.4 earthquake, which centred around the Nakasongola area, was felt across Kampala last night. For many residents, it was a brief moment of surprise, but for engineers, it was a reminder that gravity is not the only force a building may one day have to resist,” Buregyeya said.

He explained that while buildings are commonly designed to support gravity loads such as roofs, walls, furniture and occupants, earthquakes introduce a different type of loading.

“Instead of pushing down, the ground suddenly moves sideways. It pushes, pulls, twists and displaces the entire building, much like a taxi that suddenly brakes, accelerates and swerves while your body tries to remain where it was,” he said.

According to Buregyeya, when the ground moves, a building’s foundation moves with it, but the upper sections resist the motion due to inertia. This creates significant horizontal forces capable of cracking walls, distorting beams, stressing columns and weakening structural connections.

“For this reason, earthquakes are not simply weight problems. They are movement problems, and movement can be more destructive than many people imagine,” he noted.

Wake-up call for urban resilience

Urban development and transport policy consultant Dr Sam Stewart Mutabazi said the tremor should serve as a broader warning about the need to build resilient infrastructure across the country.

“The recent 4.4-magnitude earthquake may not have caused major destruction, but it should serve as a serious reminder,” said Mutabazi, who is also Executive Director of the Uganda Road Sector Support Initiative (URSSI).

“Nature has shown us that our buildings, roads, cities and towns must be prepared for shocks that can come without warning. Developers, engineers and policymakers cannot afford to ignore this lesson,” he said.

Mutabazi warned that Uganda remains vulnerable if resilience is not incorporated into infrastructure planning and development.

“It was a warning of what could happen if the earthquake was of greater scale. Uganda cannot continue with weak planning, poor supervision and fragmented action,” he said.

He called for stronger enforcement of building standards, improved coordination among institutions and greater investment in disaster preparedness.

“Developers, engineers and policymakers must treat resilience as a priority, not an afterthought. Stronger standards, better coordination and proactive planning will save lives and protect the nation's future,” he said.

Mutabazi added that while the latest tremor passed without serious consequences, future seismic events may not be as forgiving.

Why magnitude is not everything

Buregyeya cautioned against judging earthquake risks solely by magnitude. He said several factors determine how damaging a tremor can be, including its depth, proximity to populated areas, soil conditions and the duration of shaking.

“A shallow earthquake often produces stronger shaking at the surface than a deeper one. Soft soils can also amplify shaking, much like a loudspeaker amplifies sound, while some buildings naturally sway at certain rates and may respond more severely when the ground motion matches them,” he explained.

As a result, he said, a relatively modest earthquake occurring in the wrong location can sometimes cause more damage than a larger one farther away.

“That is why engineers do not only ask, ‘What was the magnitude?’ They also ask, ‘Where was it, how deep was it, what soils did it travel through, and how did the building respond?"

According to the Ministry’s findings, the tremor originated at a depth of about 10 kilometres, justifying why it was felt across such a wide geographical area despite its moderate magnitude.

Notably, Uganda lies within the western branch of the East African Rift System and periodically experiences earthquakes of varying strengths due to ongoing tectonic activity.

The hidden risks during construction

While attention often focuses on completed buildings, Buregyeya said one of the most vulnerable phases in a structure’s life is actually during construction.

“What many people do not realise is that one of the most vulnerable moments in the life of a building is not when it is old, but when it is under construction,” he said.

At that stage, he explained, the structure is still evolving, and many of the assumptions used in engineering designs have not yet become reality.

“Concrete may still be curing and far from achieving its intended strength. Temporary supports could be carrying critical loads. Some structural elements may already be completed, while others remain absent. Construction materials may also be unevenly distributed across floors and slabs”, he noted.

Buregyeya added, “In simple terms, a building under construction often behaves very differently from the building shown in the engineer's calculations. This is why construction engineering matters, because a good engineer is not only concerned with whether a building will stand when completed, but whether it will safely survive every stage between excavation and occupation.”

Kampala construction boom

The comments come at a time when Kampala and other urban centres are experiencing a rapid construction boom, with numerous multi-storey commercial and residential projects underway.

According to Buregyeya, the tremor raises a critical question for developers and property owners: who is actively managing risks while buildings are being constructed?

“Many people buy drawings, and some buy supervision. The wisest invest in engineering oversight throughout the entire construction process because structures rarely fail after the ribbon-cutting ceremony, but during the shortcuts, assumptions and compromises made before it,” he noted.

Authorities urge calm

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development has urged the public to remain calm and follow established earthquake safety guidelines.

The Ministry advised in a press release that was issued yesterday that people indoors during earthquakes should take shelter under sturdy furniture, stay away from windows and falling objects, and avoid using elevators.

In addition, the ministry said that in the event of an earthquake, those outdoors should move to open spaces away from buildings, trees, and power lines. The ministry also advised motorists to remain alert to potential hazards.

The Ministry said its Seismological Monitoring Network will continue monitoring seismic activity across the country and provide updates whenever necessary.