Several injured after Kampala Sauna explodes​

KAMPALA - Several people are nursing severe injuries after a sauna they were in at the Kampala city, Makindye division-based Buziga Country Resort exploded.

The Sunday, August 24, 2025, evening, incident happened at about 10:00 pm. A video of the incident shared showed rescuers trying to rush one of the victims, a female who was severely burnt, to Kiruddu Hospital, which is in the vicinity. Several properties were also destroyed as a result of the explosion.

Deputy Kampala Metropolitan Police (KMP) spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire confirmed the incident but said a detailed report would be released on Monday.
“Our rescue teams rushed to the scene,” he said.

Eyewitnesses, however, said up to about eight people were injured and property was damaged.

This will not be the first time a sauna has exploded in Kampala.

In September 2019, five people sustained injuries following an explosion at Marco Gym and Spa next to Quality Supermarket in Kyaliwajjala, Wakiso District.

Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesman Patrick Onyango said preliminary investigations indicated that the explosion was caused by excessive heating of the steam bath boiler. It was equally suspected that the control valve in the boiler could have been faulty.

The gas escaped from the sealed metallic container, causing a mechanical explosion, which damaged houses in the vicinity. The victims were evacuated and the scene of the crime cordoned off, Onyango said.

In 2011, a similar incident happened at a health club in Ntinda when a cylinder exploded, leaving eight people with serious injuries.