KAMPALA, UGANDA: At least one person has died and few others left with minor injuries after the main gate for Park Enkadde Mall building in Kampala collapsed on Thursday morning.
The deceased identified as Ronald Nduggwa was a hawker who at the time of the incident was up to his usual business at the building. According to eyewitnesses, Nduggwa attempted to run to safety but was blocked by oncoming taxis.
“We saw him running to save his life but the taxis that were entering the Old Taxi Park blocked him,” Mary Kantonyi said. “The taxis had minor scratches but Nduggwa died on the spot.”
Nduggwa’s body was later taken to Mulago hospital morgue for a postmortem.
Swaibu Mubiru said the killer gate had shown signs of fragility for a long time but the building owners were obstinately negligent.
“This gate was being held by only two hinges yet it was very heavy. It was opened in the morning by shop attendants and they placed merchandise on it. I think the weight was too much and the hinges gave way,” Mubiru explained.
Police arrived at the scene and took the collapsed gate as an exhibit.
Patrick Onyango, the Kampala metropolitan police spokesperson, said Nduggwa’s death is a result of negligence by the managers of the building adding that they had opened a general inquiry file with the view of finding people who will be held culpable for Nduggwa’s demise.
Park Enkadde Mall is one of the newly constructed building in the heart of Kampala city located near Mukwano Arcade adjacent Kikkubo business center.
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