Express have blamed a flat tyre for the failure of an ambulance to promptly evacuate NEC midfielder Richard Basangwa after he collapsed during Tuesday’s Uganda Premier League match at Nakivubo Stadium.
The incident occurred during a tense encounter when Basangwa went down following a collision with Express defender Glory Kisule, sparking panic among players, officials, and fans.
In a statement issued on Wednesday evening, Express acknowledged the seriousness of the incident and the breakdown in emergency response at a critical moment.
“We regret the incident that happened yesterday during our fixture against NEC at home where Basangwa Richard (NEC) collided with Kisule Glory and lost consciousness,” the club said.
However, the club attributed the evacuation failure to an unexpected mechanical problem.
“He was to be further evacuated and rushed to the hospital… unfortunately the ambulance got a flat tyre which is regrettable for the sport,” the statement added.
Video clips circulating on social media showed Basangwa being struck in the throat by an elbow, after which he lay motionless and struggled to breathe.
Medical personnel rushed onto the pitch to stabilise him, but the malfunctioning ambulance forced NEC officials to improvise, using a private vehicle to rush the player to hospital.
NEC later confirmed that Basangwa’s condition had stabilised after receiving treatment at Case Hospital.
“Richard Basangwa was struck in the throat by an elbow during yesterday’s incident. He immediately experienced pain, along with difficulty breathing and speaking,” NEC said.
“The CT scan results came back negative, ruling out any serious internal damage. His condition has since improved significantly. He is now able to breathe more comfortably and can speak in a low but clear tone,” the club added.
Express also expressed relief at the player’s recovery.
“As a club, we believe in promoting and protecting the game of football. We regret the incident. We thank God that Basangwa is out of danger and recovering steadily,” they said.
The match eventually resumed after the lengthy stoppage and ended in a goalless draw, but attention has since shifted to concerns over emergency medical preparedness and safety standards in Uganda Premier League venues.