By Our Staff Reporter

Mbale, Uganda | May 2, 2026
A building under construction has collapsed in Namakwekwe Estate, Mbale City, leaving at least six people injured and three others feared trapped beneath debris in an early morning incident on Saturday.

The collapse occurred at approximately 2:00 a.m. along Kachumbala Lane in Namakwekwe Ward, Northern City Division, after the fifth floor of the structure reportedly gave way, triggering a partial structural failure.

According to reports from the Uganda Red Cross Society, a distress call was received around 2:17 a.m., prompting an immediate emergency response. Ambulance teams, working alongside police and local volunteers, arrived within minutes and began administering first aid while evacuating the injured to nearby health facilities.

Rescue operations are still underway as emergency teams race against time to locate and extract the three individuals believed to be trapped beneath unstable debris. Authorities indicate that efforts have been complicated by the fragile state of the collapsed structure, with additional support equipment, including heavy excavation machinery, being mobilized to assist in accessing deeper sections.

Officials have commended the swift coordination between first responders and community members, noting that early intervention has been critical in saving lives.

Residents in the area have raised serious concerns regarding the quality of construction, alleging that substandard materials may have contributed to the collapse. Some claim that warnings had previously been issued about the building’s structural integrity but were not acted upon.

While the exact cause of the collapse has not yet been confirmed, authorities have launched investigations to determine whether negligence, poor workmanship, or violations of building regulations played a role.

The Mbale incident adds to a growing pattern of structural and safety-related accidents across Uganda, often linked to inadequate regulation and unsafe practices. In recent months, similar tragedies—including mining collapses and infrastructure failures—have highlighted the risks associated with unregulated or poorly supervised construction and extraction activities.

Urban expansion in cities like Mbale has led to an increase in high-rise developments, sometimes outpacing enforcement of building standards. Experts have repeatedly warned that cutting costs through inferior materials or bypassing engineering guidelines significantly raises the risk of such disasters.

The injured victims are currently receiving treatment, while families and residents anxiously await updates on those still trapped. Authorities have pledged to provide further information as rescue operations and investigations continue.