Rescue teams have pulled 23 people from the rubble of a four-storey church building that collapsed in Bwerenga, Wakiso District, with preliminary investigations pointing to possible illegal construction.
The building, an extension of Brother Ronnie Makabai’s Holy City Church Ministries along Entebbe Road in Katabi Town Council, collapsed at around 11pm on Monday night.
Up to 40 people are believed to have been at the site when the building came crashing down, triggering an emergency rescue operation that continued as teams worked to save those trapped beneath the debris.
According to a report from Entebbe Police Station, all 23 people rescued sustained critical injuries. Nine were admitted to Kisubi Hospital, while the remaining victims were taken to Entebbe Grade B Hospital for treatment.
Meanwhile, the National Building Review Board (NBRB) has deployed investigators to establish the cause of the collapse and determine whether the construction complied with the country’s building regulations.
NBRB spokesperson Herbert Ziwa said investigators were collecting samples of cement, steel and concrete for laboratory testing to establish the strength and quality of the materials used in the construction.
Katabi Town Council Mayor Frank Kajjura said preliminary checks indicated that the building had not been approved by the council, suggesting that construction was undertaken illegally.
Kajjura also revealed that the site engineer and foreman had reportedly disappeared following the collapse.
Investigations are expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident, including whether construction standards were followed and whether the building had the necessary approvals.
By Our Reporter
27th Oct 2026
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