Deaths in Uganda building collapse

Rescue teams tried to reach workers trapped under the rubble [Reuters]

Six workers have been killed and a number of others are thought to be trapped after a building under construction collapsed in the centre of Kampala, the Ugandan capital, officials said.

Six other workers were taken to hospital with severe injuries after they were removed from the rubble, according to a local police officer.

A worker said the accident happened when a wall fell down early in the day on Thursday.

He said around 24 people were working on site when the building caved in.Rescue teams were digging at the site, trying to retrieve those trapped.

Ugandan civil engineers have complained about construction companies not following safety and labour regulations, exposing the workers and the public to unnecessary risks.

Source: Agencies News Africa

One dead, four injured at building site

Thursday, 26th February, 2009
By Herbert Ssempogo and Chris Kiwawulo

ONE person died and four others sustained injuries yesterday when earth at a city construction site caved in on them. The accident, coming about 16 hours after a fire destroyed a city market, occurred at an excavated plot of land on Snay Bin and Dastur streets.

Witnesses said Edward Buwembo, Sande Omusingo, Matia Arinaitwe and two other unidentified men, were scooping soil out of a 10 metre deep hole, when earth suddenly hurtled down, killing Arinaitwe instantly.

Moments after the accident, men dashed to the scene with spades and rescued the other four. They received treatment at Mulago Hospital in Kampala. Arinaitwe’s body, was recovered and taken to the city mortuary.

The construction site is said to belong to Gaster Lule, the proprietor of Ntake Bakery. Kampala city council spokesperson, Simon Muhumuza, said Lule did not follow procedure like having a registered engineer on site.

Witnesses said the casual labourers had excavated murram for over a fortnight. Godfrey Byaruhanga, a survivor, said they were paid sh5,000 per day.

The Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura, who cut short a trip to the Nakivubo Park Yard Maket, visited the scene. “We must find out who authorises these defective plans.

We cannot allow this to continue happening. Whoever is in charge should be held responsible. We will investigate and the person found liable will be arrested,” he stated.

He said the Police would ask Parliament to give them authority to authorise such projects. Kampala resident district commissioner Alice Muwanguzi said the incident justified the Government’s desire to take over the management of the city. Lule could not be reached for a comment.

Last year eight people were killed and one injured after an excavated wall collapsed at the construction site of the NSSF pension building on Lumumba Avenue in Kampala.