Assessment of the cause of the collapse of the building in Kisenyi downtown Kampala.

Abstract

Kampala’s rapid urbanization has caused an increase in the demand for housing facilities. This has resulted in challenges of rapid construction of buildings often leading to engagement of nontechnical procedures and unqualified personnel that can often compromise the integrity of the structure. Furthermore, the approval process for building designs at the Directorate of Engineering and Technical Services under KCCA takes months prior to completion prompting illegal erection of structures with in Kampala. This report stipulates the procedures, analysis and results attained to carry out an assessment of the causes of the collapse of the building in Kisenyi downtown Kampala in September 2021. The investigation was carried out between October and December 2021. Destructive and nondestructive tests were used to assess the materials especially concrete used on site. The questionnaire, the recordings and visual inspection were used to assess the construction methods. Staad pro connect version of Cad application was used to check the adequacy and redesign the building. During the assessment, it was found out that the collapsed building did not have approved drawings, the lower parts of the columns had honey combing despite being the critical points of load concentration, low concrete class was used, poor construction methods were employed and there was less supervision during the construction.