Three people have been confirmed dead following the collapse of a building under construction in Kisasi Zone, Kawempe North, Kampala.
Survivors said the incident may have been triggered by the removal of wooden support beams from the lower section of the structure, which allegedly caused the building to give way and collapse.
The deceased have been identified as Kivumbi, James, commonly known as “Rasta,” and a third person whose identity had not yet been established by press time.
At the scene, residents and individuals believed to be porters at the construction site accused security personnel of using force and preventing them from assisting colleagues who were trapped under the debris.
Rescue operations continued into the day, with excavators and specialized equipment deployed to clear rubble and search for any possible survivors.
Later, additional heavy machinery arrived at the site, accompanied by Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Executive Director-designate Sharifah Buzeki and Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago.
Police officers in protective gear recovered three bodies from the debris as the operation progressed, with survivors identifying two of the deceased as Kivumbi, reportedly a supervisor on the site, and James alias “Rasta.”
Witnesses maintained that the collapse was triggered after wooden supports holding the structure were removed during ongoing construction works.
The Director of Engineering and Technical Services at KCCA, Justus Akankwasa, said the authority had halted construction on the building in April after finding that it did not meet required standards, but the developer allegedly continued with the works despite the directive.
Kawempe Division Mayor Emmanuel Sserunjoji criticised KCCA over what he described as centralised control over building approvals and enforcement mechanisms.
KCCA officials have vowed that all individuals found responsible for breaching building regulations will face legal action.
Police have launched investigations to establish the exact cause of the collapse and determine whether safety and construction guidelines were violated.
According to survivors, 12 people were inside the building at the time of the collapse. Nine managed to escape, while three were trapped and later confirmed dead.