Two killed by collapsing city building
Mar 14, 2009
TWO people died and over 20 others sustained severe injuries when a building in Kampala city centre collapsed yesterday afternoon. The four-storied caved in at about 2:00pm after an excavation at an adjacent construction site forced the foundation to give
By Francis Kagolo
and Jude Kafuuma
TWO people died and over 20 others sustained severe injuries when a building in Kampala city centre collapsed yesterday afternoon. The four-storied commercial structure, known as Mirembe Shopping Arcade, caved in at about 2:00pm after an excavation at an adjacent construction site forced the foundation to give way.
The building, located on Plot 5A, Nasser Road, is owned by city businessman Godfrey Kirumira.
The Police publicist, Judith Nabakooba, identified the dead as Daniel Kakooza, who was running a stationery shop in Room 8 and Peter Lutakome.
Ten other victims with multiple injuries were whisked by Police patrol vehicles to Mulago Hospital where they were admitted. Two had been discharged, by press time, while more others were still covered in the debris. It was suspected that many people were still trapped under the rubble by press time.
Helpless victims who were still breathing under the debris groaned as the rescue team tried to search for their bodies. Telephone communication between those who were still covered in the debris and their relatives were rendered fruitless by the network disconnections.
At the scene, feeble voices were heard howling several times under the rubble, while relatives of the victims had their eyes watering all through.
The Police lacked caterpillars to dig up the bodies. The two that were being used were provided by Roko Construction Company, whose offices are close to the site.
The collapsed building housed a printery, NK Enterprises and a shoe and clothes store; with over 40 workers, according to one of the tenants who survived.
Eye witnesses said builders at the adjacent construction site, whose works started three weeks ago, arrived at dawn to continue excavating the foundation. The foundation had reached 30 feet underground. It weakened the Arcade’s base, letting it split in the middle, hence giving way.
“In the morning, we heard the building cracking. When we informed the builders, they said we were lying,†lamented Agatha Lutemba, the manager of the shoes and clothes store that was smashed in the crash.
The accident occurred instantly when majority of the workers were busy and few managed to escape, eye witnesses said. The owner of the construction site that led to the accident, had not been ascertained by press time. Kirumira said he had earlier warned the site engineer of a possible danger but he paid him deaf ears.
“I bought my building (Mirembe Arcade) 15 years ago and it was still strong,†Kirumira asserted. He warned that the owner of the plot where construction for the new building has been taking place will have to pay dearly.
Earlier on in the day, city dwellers who had surrounded the scene to catch a glimpse of the debacle hurled stones and obscenities at Police officers as they chased them away to clear the scene for a quick rescue process.
As relatives of the victims mourned, it was another opportunity for the city goons. The thugs looted almost every thing they could lay their hands on; from women handbags to slippers, calendars and books.
“You arrived late and with nothing to exhume the bodies. Instead of caterpillars you brought batons and teargas. Who will help you if you chase us away?†one of the goons asked a Police officer.
Traffic at Nasser and Nkrumah roads was blocked and business came to a standstill.
Meanwhile, President Yoweri Museveni yesterday warned that officials who approve “hopeless†buildings will be hanged.
Addressing reporters at State House Nakasero, Museveni stated: “We shall have to hang some of these individuals. They can’t go on approving hopeless buildings. That is murder. We have to deal with these people.â€
He noted that, “Buildings cannot collapse over nothing. There must be a contractual problem.â€
Is Kampala city a hub of shoddy buildings?
In the recent years, a series of collapsing buildings in Uganda have claimed hundreds of people’s lives and loss of property adding up to millions of money.
In March 2006, about 27 people were killed after a church roof collapsed and crushed them during a service, in Kalerwe. More than 86 worshippers were terribly injured in the accident. Most of the dead were crushed when a wall crumbled during a heavy storm.
In 2007, a hotel which was under construction in Bwebajja on Entebbe Road collapsed and killed 11 people. The investigation committee headed by Prof. Jackson Mwakali recommended among other things to have a Building Control Bill, in place immediately. Up to date, the Bill has never been effected.
A few weeks later, the building that housed Mini Price Bata on Ben Kiwanuka street in the city centre also collapsed and three people were killed.
It was followed by another building under construction at St. Peters SS in Naalya, which crumpled while it was being roofed and killed 11 construction workers.
In September last year, Makerere University’s fence also collapsed, but fortunately no one was killed or injured.
Late last year, seven people died and two were injured when a retaining wall collapsed at a National Social Security Fund building in Kampala.
Early this year, four casual labourers of Abu Construction Company, working on Aya Hotel died and 11 others sustained serious injuries when a cable of a pulley system they were using disintegrated.
Complied by Conan Businge
and Jude Kafuuma
TWO people died and over 20 others sustained severe injuries when a building in Kampala city centre collapsed yesterday afternoon. The four-storied commercial structure, known as Mirembe Shopping Arcade, caved in at about 2:00pm after an excavation at an adjacent construction site forced the foundation to give way.
The building, located on Plot 5A, Nasser Road, is owned by city businessman Godfrey Kirumira.
The Police publicist, Judith Nabakooba, identified the dead as Daniel Kakooza, who was running a stationery shop in Room 8 and Peter Lutakome.
Ten other victims with multiple injuries were whisked by Police patrol vehicles to Mulago Hospital where they were admitted. Two had been discharged, by press time, while more others were still covered in the debris. It was suspected that many people were still trapped under the rubble by press time.
Helpless victims who were still breathing under the debris groaned as the rescue team tried to search for their bodies. Telephone communication between those who were still covered in the debris and their relatives were rendered fruitless by the network disconnections.
At the scene, feeble voices were heard howling several times under the rubble, while relatives of the victims had their eyes watering all through.
The Police lacked caterpillars to dig up the bodies. The two that were being used were provided by Roko Construction Company, whose offices are close to the site.
The collapsed building housed a printery, NK Enterprises and a shoe and clothes store; with over 40 workers, according to one of the tenants who survived.
Eye witnesses said builders at the adjacent construction site, whose works started three weeks ago, arrived at dawn to continue excavating the foundation. The foundation had reached 30 feet underground. It weakened the Arcade’s base, letting it split in the middle, hence giving way.
“In the morning, we heard the building cracking. When we informed the builders, they said we were lying,†lamented Agatha Lutemba, the manager of the shoes and clothes store that was smashed in the crash.
The accident occurred instantly when majority of the workers were busy and few managed to escape, eye witnesses said. The owner of the construction site that led to the accident, had not been ascertained by press time. Kirumira said he had earlier warned the site engineer of a possible danger but he paid him deaf ears.
“I bought my building (Mirembe Arcade) 15 years ago and it was still strong,†Kirumira asserted. He warned that the owner of the plot where construction for the new building has been taking place will have to pay dearly.
Earlier on in the day, city dwellers who had surrounded the scene to catch a glimpse of the debacle hurled stones and obscenities at Police officers as they chased them away to clear the scene for a quick rescue process.
As relatives of the victims mourned, it was another opportunity for the city goons. The thugs looted almost every thing they could lay their hands on; from women handbags to slippers, calendars and books.
“You arrived late and with nothing to exhume the bodies. Instead of caterpillars you brought batons and teargas. Who will help you if you chase us away?†one of the goons asked a Police officer.
Traffic at Nasser and Nkrumah roads was blocked and business came to a standstill.
Meanwhile, President Yoweri Museveni yesterday warned that officials who approve “hopeless†buildings will be hanged.
Addressing reporters at State House Nakasero, Museveni stated: “We shall have to hang some of these individuals. They can’t go on approving hopeless buildings. That is murder. We have to deal with these people.â€
He noted that, “Buildings cannot collapse over nothing. There must be a contractual problem.â€
Is Kampala city a hub of shoddy buildings?
In the recent years, a series of collapsing buildings in Uganda have claimed hundreds of people’s lives and loss of property adding up to millions of money.
Complied by Conan Businge