Slab kills 1
Aug 31, 2003
A concrete slab collapsed at a Kawempe building site yesterday, crushing an unidentified worker to death
A concrete slab collapsed at a Kawempe building site yesterday, crushing an unidentified worker to death, reports Henry Mukasa.
It was all mangled iron bars, stones and sand as a stunned crowd looked on. Three others were injured.
Dirisa Kasozi sustained a broken spine, Kigozi Sulaiman of Bwaise had his chest shattered while Batte Ronald of Kawaala broke both legs.
They were rushed to Mulago Hospital in critical condition.
A Kawempe Police officer, Jackson Muhwezi, said inadequate cement was used in making the concrete.
“It was just a mixture of sand and stones. Just standing on the collapsed walls and even by scratching, sand would fall off,†he said.
The victims were labourers on Katongole Complex owned by a Kawempe businessman, Daudi Katongole.
They were working on an extension in its backyard. Ironically, at the front of the building Katongole owns and manages a hardware shop for construction materials including cement.
The accident happened at 2:00pm as the four labourers removed timber props. Angry residents gathered demanding the blood of the site engineer and Katongole.
Patrol Police and the fire brigade struggled for over 30 minutes to cut free the body. Women wept.
It was all mangled iron bars, stones and sand as a stunned crowd looked on. Three others were injured.
Dirisa Kasozi sustained a broken spine, Kigozi Sulaiman of Bwaise had his chest shattered while Batte Ronald of Kawaala broke both legs.
They were rushed to Mulago Hospital in critical condition.
A Kawempe Police officer, Jackson Muhwezi, said inadequate cement was used in making the concrete.
“It was just a mixture of sand and stones. Just standing on the collapsed walls and even by scratching, sand would fall off,†he said.
The victims were labourers on Katongole Complex owned by a Kawempe businessman, Daudi Katongole.
They were working on an extension in its backyard. Ironically, at the front of the building Katongole owns and manages a hardware shop for construction materials including cement.
The accident happened at 2:00pm as the four labourers removed timber props. Angry residents gathered demanding the blood of the site engineer and Katongole.
Patrol Police and the fire brigade struggled for over 30 minutes to cut free the body. Women wept.