Police together with Red Cross and Kampala Capital City Authority were by nightfall still fighting to rescue an unknown number of people still buried in the debris of a collapsed building near Makerere University’s Main gate and Ham shopping mall in Wandegeya.
According to eyewitness, this 5 storied building before collapsing, developed a huge crack which forced many of the occupants to dash out in fear.
The 5 storied building near Makerere University collapsed on Monday afternoon
“Tenants were shocked to see that the crack on this building had widened. Many of them started to pick their belongings and merchandise, and at the time of collapse many of them were still leaving,” said one of the witnesses.
However, although Police arrived at the scene in time, it took long for excavators and wheel loaders to arrive and help move the debris.
Police strained to manage the huge crowd
Some witnesses told us that all this while they could hear people trapped inside screaming for help.
Meanwhile, Police was forced to unleash some teargas to disperse hundreds of people that crowded the area, making the rescue process complicated. The crowd also responded by hurling stones at the police.
Excavators helping in the rescue
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokes person Patrick Onyango confirmed that By 6.30 pm this evening three bodies had been recovered and four people were rushed to Mulago in critical conditions.
It was still unclear how long, the exercise of saving those still trapped inside would take as by nightfall it seemed like that work had just commenced.
Ambulances on Standby
In the meantime over ten ambulances from Mulago hospital, Ministry of Health, KCCA and other private clinics were on standby to rush victims to hospital.