AYA Hotel lift operator arrested
Dec 29, 2008
THE Police have arrested the man who was supposed to be controlling the lift that crushed five people to death at AYA’s Hilton hotel construction site in Kampala.
By Cyprian Musoke
and Eddie SSejjoba
THE Police have arrested the man who was supposed to be controlling the lift that crushed five people to death at AYA’s Hilton hotel construction site in Kampala.
Kampala extra Police spokesman Simeo Nsubuga yesterday said Gerald Ogoola, who went for lunch and left the workers to find their way down the building would help the Police with investigations.
Nsubuga said Ogoola would face charges of criminal negligence.
Three people died instantly in the Sunday incident, while 12 others were injured. Two died later at Mulago Hospital.
Some of the injured said Ogoola had left a learner, who had just been employed, to control the “improvised lift†at the now 10-floor complex.
Mulago public relations officer Eliphaz Ssekabira said Dennis Bwire and Fred Mulindwa were discharged yesterday.
Most of the patients, he added, sustained multiple fractures and would be taken to the orthopaedic theatre today for major operations.
The AYA general manager, Clive Mutiso, said they had paid the mortuary dues, bought coffins and facilitated funeral arrangements.
“We have already taken the bodies where they are supposed to be buried. We have discussed with relatives of those still in hospital to provide all that is needed including medicine, X-rays, scans. We are ready to compensate everybody,†he said.
He was, however, tight-lipped on how much they had forked out or would pay in compensation.
One of the admitted carpenters, Charles Owor, a resident of Kisaasi, said most cooks had left for Christmas, leaving only two, so all the workers had to jam the only lift in order not to miss lunch.
“There is always a rush at lunchtime. It was, therefore, difficult to stop anyone from getting on the lift,†he said from his hospital bed.
He said they were working on the 10th flow, but around the 7th floor, the pulley gave way, making the lift plunge while swinging and banging them on the side walls.
“We didn’t know what to do as we were being banged from left to right, until there was a loud bang! Next, blood was spilling everywhere. I felt my leg trapped in the lift door,†Owor narrated.
He said he has two wives and four children. He said the company had given him sh10,000, a pair of bed sheets, a blanket and a towel.
Joseph Opio, who sustained broken ribs, said he lost consciousness when the pulley gave way and only came to on the hospital bed, with blood all over his body. He has a wife and a child.
and Eddie SSejjoba
THE Police have arrested the man who was supposed to be controlling the lift that crushed five people to death at AYA’s Hilton hotel construction site in Kampala.
Kampala extra Police spokesman Simeo Nsubuga yesterday said Gerald Ogoola, who went for lunch and left the workers to find their way down the building would help the Police with investigations.
Nsubuga said Ogoola would face charges of criminal negligence.
Three people died instantly in the Sunday incident, while 12 others were injured. Two died later at Mulago Hospital.
Some of the injured said Ogoola had left a learner, who had just been employed, to control the “improvised lift†at the now 10-floor complex.
Mulago public relations officer Eliphaz Ssekabira said Dennis Bwire and Fred Mulindwa were discharged yesterday.
Most of the patients, he added, sustained multiple fractures and would be taken to the orthopaedic theatre today for major operations.
The AYA general manager, Clive Mutiso, said they had paid the mortuary dues, bought coffins and facilitated funeral arrangements.
“We have already taken the bodies where they are supposed to be buried. We have discussed with relatives of those still in hospital to provide all that is needed including medicine, X-rays, scans. We are ready to compensate everybody,†he said.
He was, however, tight-lipped on how much they had forked out or would pay in compensation.
One of the admitted carpenters, Charles Owor, a resident of Kisaasi, said most cooks had left for Christmas, leaving only two, so all the workers had to jam the only lift in order not to miss lunch.
“There is always a rush at lunchtime. It was, therefore, difficult to stop anyone from getting on the lift,†he said from his hospital bed.
He said they were working on the 10th flow, but around the 7th floor, the pulley gave way, making the lift plunge while swinging and banging them on the side walls.
“We didn’t know what to do as we were being banged from left to right, until there was a loud bang! Next, blood was spilling everywhere. I felt my leg trapped in the lift door,†Owor narrated.
He said he has two wives and four children. He said the company had given him sh10,000, a pair of bed sheets, a blanket and a towel.
Joseph Opio, who sustained broken ribs, said he lost consciousness when the pulley gave way and only came to on the hospital bed, with blood all over his body. He has a wife and a child.