By Our Reporter
A tragic building collapse in Katuuso Zone, Buziga Parish, Makindye Division has left at least one person dead and another injured, as emergency rescue operations continue in the aftermath of the overnight disaster.
The incident occurred during the night of Sunday, June 15, prompting swift response from the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and the Uganda Police Force. In a statement issued early Monday, KCCA confirmed that one survivor had been pulled from the rubble and was receiving medical treatment, while search teams continue to comb through debris in hopes of finding more victims.
“We have learnt of a building that has collapsed in Katuuso Zone, Buziga Parish, Makindye Division. KCCA together with Uganda Police are on ground as rescue efforts are ongoing,” read a post from KCCA on X (formerly Twitter).
Unverified images circulating on social media appear to show a lifeless body among the debris, underscoring the grim nature of the incident. Authorities have yet to officially confirm the total number of casualties or provide clarity on whether more individuals are trapped beneath the wreckage.
A Familiar Pattern Of Tragedy
While the exact cause of the Buziga collapse is still under investigation, it fits into a deeply troubling pattern that has marred Kampala’s skyline in recent years. Between 2019 and 2023, Uganda recorded at least 41 building collapses, resulting in 94 deaths and over 100 injuries — with a significant number of these occurring in Kampala’s fast-growing divisions such as Makindye, Kawempe, Rubaga, and Central.
The May 2020 Lukuli tragedy, also in Makindye, claimed 13 lives. Other notable incidents include deadly collapses in Kansanga (2020), Kitebi (2021), and Ndejje (2022). These repeated disasters have raised pressing questions about the safety of Uganda’s construction sector.
Engineering studies and watchdog reports continue to point fingers at a mix of substandard construction materials, unqualified labor, and lax regulatory enforcement. A 2023 study by Ugandan engineers found that the use of poor-quality cement, steel, and inadequate supervision were leading contributors to structural failures.
The National Building Review Board (NBRB), working in tandem with KCCA, has consistently emphasized that developers must adhere to building codes, secure all necessary approvals, and employ qualified site engineers. But enforcement remains patchy, and illegal constructions continue to mushroom in high-demand areas like Buziga — a suburb known for rapid real estate development.
With yet another building collapse claiming lives, pressure is mounting on city authorities to hold negligent developers accountable and step up building inspections. Civil society groups and local leaders are urging a full audit of ongoing construction projects, particularly in densely populated urban areas where safety violations are suspected.
As of Monday morning, rescue teams remained on-site in Katuuso Zone, and KCCA has pledged to update the public as investigations proceed.
Meanwhile, families of potential victims wait anxiously for news, once again left to grapple with the deadly consequences of a broken construction oversight system.