Ntinda Building Collapse Claims One Life, Injures Another

Tragedy struck in Ntinda, Kampala, when a multi-storey building undergoing construction collapsed onto a residential house on Stretcher Road in the early hours of Monday morning. The devastating incident has claimed the life of Serose Katusiime, a 50-year-old woman who was selling maize near the site.

Her body was recovered from the extensive debris by rescue teams. Another individual who was injured in the collapse has been transported to Mulago National Referral Hospital for urgent medical attention. The collapse occurred around midnight, and initial reports suggest an unknown number of people, potentially including construction workers, may have been trapped.

Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Rachel Kawala confirmed that rescue operations were ongoing throughout Monday afternoon. “Our officers are still at the scene conducting operations to establish the circumstances and determine whether any other persons remain trapped,” Kawala stated.

This incident adds to a concerning pattern of structural failures in Uganda. The National Building Review Board (NBRB) has recorded at least 41 structural collapses between 2019 and 2025, leading to over 90 fatalities. Previous investigations into similar incidents have frequently cited issues such as construction proceeding without approved plans, the engagement of unqualified engineers, poor construction quality, and the use of substandard materials.

Authorities have also expressed dismay at developers who continue building activities, sometimes under the cover of darkness, even after receiving official stop-work orders. The exact cause of the Ntinda building collapse remains under investigation as rescue efforts continue.

Source: The Observer (Uganda)