One person died and 25 other adult males were pulled alive from the rubble after an under-construction church building collapsed in Wakiso District on Monday, October 26, 2026, according to police.
Rescue Operations and Medical Evacuations
The structural failure occurred at the Holy City Church, operated under Brother Ronnie’s Ministries by Ronnie Makabai, in Bwerenga, Katabi Town Council. According to Kampala Metropolitan Police (KMP) spokesperson Rachael Kawala, the deceased builder was identified as Lukwago Francis.
Emergency response personnel deployed to the site shortly after the collapse. Kawala confirmed that 25 adult males were rescued from beneath the heavy debris and rushed for emergency medical treatment. Survivors were distributed across several healthcare facilities, including Kisubi Hospital, Entebbe Grade B Hospital, and Mulago National Referral Hospital. In an earlier statement, Kawala had confirmed that approximately 22 people had been rescued before the number was updated to 25.
Search and rescue operations remained active as teams worked to determine whether any additional individuals remained trapped underneath the collapsed structure. Authorities stated that not all people present at the construction site had been fully accounted for as operations continued, with emergency response personnel working around the clock.
Site Conditions and Preliminary Findings
Preliminary police findings indicate that the fallen structure was a fourth-floor extension of the main church building. Security around the premises was heavily reinforced, with police and military personnel cordoning off the entrance to secure the area as an active crime scene.
This is someone’s premises. It’s a crime scene. Yes, it’s being contained. And for smooth running of works, so please be patient and be calm and let our teams work to see that we rescue,
Kawala told journalists at the scene.
One survivor recounted narrow moments of survival to reporters at the site, describing how a quick decision to duck under a metallic stage shielded him after a loud crash signaled the failure of the structure. We heard a loud sound and everyone started running. I managed to hide under a metallic stage, and that is what saved me,
the survivor shared. Another survivor, Rogers Muramira, was photographed checking through his phone at the location following the disaster.
Ongoing Investigations
Police and structural engineers have launched formal inquiries to determine the exact circumstances and underlying causes of the collapse. As active rescue efforts persisted, authorities had not yet released an official determination regarding structural integrity or construction safety standards at the site.
