Betty Kyakuwa, Andrew Bagala and Zurah Nakabugo
15 October 2008
Kampala — Julius Otike woke up yesterday morning hoping to make some pennies for tuition but did not live to realise his dream. He was among nine people buried yesterday when the retaining wall of the excavation on the foundation of the NSSF Pension Towers collapsed. Seven died.
The tragedy happened at 11:50am on Lumumba Avenue in Kampala, where the National Social Security Fund, is constructing a new office complex. Otike was a casual labourer employed by Roko Construction Ltd, who are contracted by NSSF to build the 26-storey Pension Towers worth Shs120b.
It was tears and wailing as relatives and friends rushed to the scene only to watch as dear ones were retrieved from huge a pile of earth that collapsed onto the workers into an estimated 25-metre deep foundation.
Onlookers held their breath when the excavator used in the rescue operation dug out Otike's head, leaving the rest of his body in the soil. One foreman, unable to stomach the sight, collapsed. Mulago Hospital staff and Red Cross employees joined the rescue mission.
In an operation that lasted up to 4pm, six other Roko company workers who included Steven Odong, Willie Okello, Richard Angweno, Silver Olowo, John Bosco Tushabe and Nasib Kisembo, were retrieved, dead.
Two survivors, Mr Peter Otto and Mr Yahaya Nsimbe were rushed to Nsambya Hospital in critical condition. And for one Ssekamate, it was a case of cheating death by a whisker. "I was walking towards the people buried when I saw the wall collapse. I screamed and ran back to where I was coming from," he told journalists in a shaky voice. "There was no warning or prior noise to alert us."
According to an eyewitness, some neighbours' who were washing clothes survived when they dashed before the land they were standing on collapsed. "They shouted and ran away," said Mr Patrick Kizito, said.
By 12:15pm, a police team led by Kampala Extra region CID boss Godfrey Musana and Kampala Extra Police spokesman Simeo Nsubuga had arrived at the scene, to oversee the rescue. The Police sealed off the premises.
The cause of the collapse of the retaining wall could not be readily identified but some of the labourers Daily Monitor talked to blame the accident on heavy rains that had weakened the soil, an argument dismissed by Mr Nsubuga.
The Police spokesman attributed the catastrophe to poor workmanship, saying the Police will investigate the incident.
"We are recording statements from the workers and we want to establish whether negligence was the cause of the deaths," he said.
Mr Musana is leading the inquiry and police yesterday ordered residents in the nearby houses to vacate because the area had become unsafe. But Mr Henry William Ssentoogo, the lead consultant told Daily Monitor, that what happened was a "terrible accident and a tragedy", but said the NSSF managers, would give a formal statement.
In a statement last evening NSSF's Lumonya said, "We are working with Roko Construction Ltd, who took charge of the construction site in May 2008 and they have affirmed to us, that all standard safety measures were put in place and are being adhered to. However, investigations to determine the cause of the accident will be embarked on and the public will be informed of the progress and eventual outcome as soon as possible"
Roko Managing Director Mr Dragomir Lakic said last evening that the construction company had suspended works until further notice. Mr Lakic denied that poor workmanship had cause the collapse of the retaining wall blaming it on "erosion and escalation". NSSF Managing Director, David Chandi Jamwa said, "We shall inquire to find out the real cause of this mishap.
Dr Jackson Mwakali, the Engineers' Registration Board Chairman said it seemed that the excavations were being done without supporting the soil, which may have caused a landslide.
"I have talked to the people who were working on the project. They have told me they have been excavating then supporting the soil later. Yet it would have been the reverse," said Dr Mwakali, who is also an associate professor at Makerere University.
"The side that collapsed was completely unprotected."
Dr Mwakali said the engineers board want the construction halted but would also investigate the incident.
Mr Hans Mwesigwa, the former president of Uganda Institution of Professional Engineers said normally, the soil must be slanting not at 90 degrees as was the case of the collapsed part.
Efforts to speak to the Structural Consultant Prof. John Ssenfuma, were futile as he told his secretary that he did not want to speak to journalists.
Ministers Mwesigwa Rukutana (State for Labour) and Matia Kasaijja (Internal Affairs) were among the top government officials to visit the construction site.
NSSF managers have been in the spotlight after the Board on June 18 approved the escalation of the Lumumba Avenue project from Shs36 billion to Shs120 billion without approval of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority.
Copyright © 2008 The Monitor. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
Read comments. Write your own.
