Rescue efforts continued into a second day on Saturday following the collapse of a multi-storey building under construction in Kisasi, as authorities warned that the chances of finding additional survivors were diminishing.
The tragedy occurred on Friday afternoon in Kisota Zone, Kikaya Parish, Kisasi, when a three-storey structure under construction suddenly gave way, trapping workers beneath the rubble. By Saturday evening, three people had been confirmed dead, while nine survivors were receiving treatment in hospital.
According to Rachel Kawala, two of the deceased have been identified as Jonathan Kivumbi and James, commonly known as “Rasta.” The third victim, an adult male, had not yet been identified by authorities.
The bodies were transferred to Mulago City Mortuary for postmortem examinations.
Police Fire and Rescue Services, working alongside the Uganda Red Cross, continued search and recovery operations throughout Saturday as teams combed through concrete debris and twisted metal in search of any remaining victims.
Preliminary findings indicate that the building, which had been under construction for about eight months, collapsed at approximately 1:00 p.m. on Friday after failure originating from the upper floor.
As rescue operations continued, attention turned to questions surrounding regulatory compliance and enforcement.
Sharifa Buzeki, Executive Director of the Kampala Capital City Authority, said the construction project had not received the necessary approvals from the authority.
“The building was being constructed illegally because its plans had not been approved,” Ms Buzeki said. “The developers were issued a stop notice in April, but they defied it and continued with construction, mostly operating at night to evade enforcement officers.”
Meanwhile, Justus Akankwasa attributed the collapse to deficiencies in structural design combined with the use of substandard construction materials.
Police have since launched investigations and are searching for those responsible for the project.
“We are tracking down the site owner and the site engineer,” Kawala said, adding that investigators are examining possible negligence-related offences. She noted that authorities require the suspects to present approved building plans and evidence of their professional credentials.
The incident has renewed scrutiny of KCCA’s ability to monitor construction projects across the city.
Emmanuel Sserunjogi acknowledged challenges facing enforcement efforts, citing leadership gaps and staffing shortages within KCCA’s physical planning and engineering departments. According to him, these limitations have undermined routine inspections and oversight activities.
The collapse adds to a growing list of structural failures recorded in Uganda in recent years. Data from the National Building Review Board shows that at least 41 building failures were registered between 2019 and 2025, leading to more than 90 deaths.
Among the most notable incidents was the 2020 building collapse in Lukuli-Makindye, which claimed 13 lives and was similarly linked to unqualified contractors and inadequate site supervision.
The latest disaster comes only two months after the enactment of the Building Control (Amendment) Act 2026, which increased penalties for building regulation violations to a maximum prison sentence of 12 years.
Despite the tougher legal framework, critics argue that stronger enforcement and regular on-site inspections will be necessary to prevent further tragedies as Kampala’s construction sector continues to expand.
