JINJA – The National Building Review Board-NBRB, on Saturday, closed a section of the Jinja based Speke Courts Hotel, following the collapse of a building that left at least one person in injuries.
The NBRB officials led by the head of enforcement, Jafar Magyezi noted that the extension building was attached to the guests’ rooms which could put the lives of the guests at risk.
Magyezi said the developer cleared the crime scene without the knowledge of the City security officials, which has hindered investigations.
NBRB Spokesperson, Herbert Zziwa said that the developer had disregarded the technical committee’s recommendations and instead resolved to sanction fresh construction works at the exact area, where the building had collapsed – within days.
Zziwa said that the area had been cordoned off as a crime scene for a period of two weeks, with hopes of enabling experts carryout thoroughly investigations to determine the exact cause of the incident. He added that NBRB experts will also assess the viability of other hotel buildings, which are suspected to have been constructed without adherence to the physical planning procedures.
Management of the hotel declined to comment on the directives from the review board.
On Wednesday, the National Building Review Board-NBRB said that preliminary findings indicated that the extension building collapsed, largely due to poor quality construction materials and lack of supervision.
The two-floor building still under construction collapsed on Monday night. Eyewitnesses say that the building collapsed at around 7:00pm while casual labourers were finalising their day’s duty.
