UGANDA, Lira | Real Muloodi News | A building collapses in Lira City killing two individuals and leaving 10 others injured. The incident occurred at a guest house where construction was underway.
The victims have been identified as Justine Olel, 55, and Isaac Ilem, both of whom were working as porters at the site of the Peacock Guest House.
According to SP Jimmy Patrick Okema, the North Kyoga Regional Police spokesperson, the deceased individuals were trapped under the debris, requiring the assistance of an excavator to recover their bodies.
The site was visited by various police officers, including the district police commanders and the homicide team.
The injured individuals have been admitted to Lira Regional Referral Hospital for medical treatment, while the bodies of the deceased have been taken to the Lira Hospital morgue for postmortem examination.
Investigations into the incident are still ongoing. The authorities are awaiting a statement from the building owner and are looking to confirm the necessary approvals from the city engineering team for the construction project.
Lira City Mayor, Mr Sam Atul, expressed the need for proper clearance and approval from the engineering department of Lira City Council for sites like this. It remains to be determined whether the construction site was authorised or illegal.
He said; “A site like this should have got clearance from the engineering department from Lira City council. We are yet to establish whether this was an illegal construction site or approved.”
Sadly, this is not the first incident of its kind in Lira City this year. On May 5, 2023, a commercial building housing Abacus Pharmacy Limited collapsed, resulting in the immediate death of one person.
The structure, located on Bala Road, was in a dilapidated state and claimed the life of a 20-year-old cobbler named Isaac Salekwa, while another person sustained injuries.
In a similar incident last year, a security guard named Godfrey Otwii lost his life when the building he was guarding collapsed on him in Lira City.
These incidents highlight the urgent need for stringent measures to ensure building safety and adherence to construction regulations in Lira City to prevent further loss of life and injuries.
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