NBRB Cites Structural Design Flaws in Makabai’s Church Collapse

The National Building Review Board (NBRB) has identified suspected structural design flaws, poor workmanship and missing building approvals in the collapse of a four-storey extension at Pastor Brother Ronnie Makabai’s Holy City Church in Bwerenga, Wakiso District, which left one person dead and 25 others injured.

In its preliminary findings released on Wednesday, the board said the building initially leaned and tipped over before the entire structure collapsed on Monday, October 26, raising questions about its structural design, construction quality and professional supervision. The collapsed extension, comprising a ground floor and three upper floors, was being added to the existing church hall when the disaster occurred. Workers were carrying out final finishing activities, including laying terrazzo flooring, suggesting that the main structural works had been completed.

The board identified possible weaknesses in the design of the reinforced-concrete structure, including unusually large beams measuring up to 60 centimetres by 60 centimetres, some spanning more than six metres without intermediate support. Inspectors also found that the steel reinforcement bars embedded in the concrete floor slabs varied in size and were unevenly spaced, potentially compromising the strength and stability of the floors.

The columns, beams and floors were irregular in shape, which the board said suggested poor workmanship and inadequate supervision by a qualified professional. The extension was attached to an older church hall built with a steel-frame structure, raising further questions about how the two structures were designed and connected. However, the board’s preliminary findings do not yet establish the precise mechanism that caused the building to fail.

The NBRB classified the extension as a Class A building, requiring the highest level of regulatory approval and professional oversight. Yet investigators found no building permit or approved drawings at the site. The board also reported that no site safety measures were observed during its inspection. The deceased was identified as Francis Lukwago, a builder working at the site. The 25 injured survivors were rescued from the rubble and taken to Entebbe Grade B Hospital and Kisubi Hospital for treatment.

The NBRB is investigating the collapse, including the quality of construction materials and compliance with building regulations. Its findings remain preliminary, and further investigations are expected to establish the cause of the collapse and any responsibility for the incident.