news 2 May 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Mbale Building Collapse Claims One Life, Search Ongoing for Missing
A building in Namakwekwe Estate, Mbale City collapsed early Saturday, killing builder Andrew Wonyakara and injuring six others, with fears of more trapped under rubble. Rescue teams face challenges due to limited equipment as investigations probe construction violations. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/body-recovered-more-missing-in-mbale-building-collapse-5444592
A tragic building collapse in Mbale City’s Namakwekwe Estate claimed the life of Andrew Wonyakara, a builder recovered from the debris around 3:00 pm on Saturday. The incident occurred at approximately 2:00 a.m. when the fifth floor gave way, trapping occupants and damaging nearby homes.
Six people sustained injuries, including residents from affected neighboring houses. Emergency responders from the Uganda Red Cross, police, and volunteers rushed to the scene, but heavy machinery shortages slowed efforts to reach potential victims still missing.
Elgon Regional Police Spokesperson Rogers Taika confirmed ongoing search and rescue operations alongside an investigation. Witnesses estimate eight workers were inside during the collapse, which happened while residents slept.
Mbale City Clerk Assy Abirebe noted construction began three years ago. City engineer Johnson Gimuyi revealed the project was previously halted for non-compliance, yet developers reportedly continued secretly at night.
Neighbors like Scholastica Akello, 65, and Gloria Nafuna described chaos as debris crashed through roofs, injuring them and a baby. They had repeatedly warned about substandard materials, weak bars, poor bricks, and lack of safety measures, blaming lax city oversight.
Police cordoned the area, and the National Building Review Board launched a probe into the quality concerns.
This report is based on Daily Monitor (Uganda).