Police have launched an investigation into a fatal electrocution incident that left a 19-year-old man dead and another critically injured at a construction site in Kampala, authorities said on Sunday.
The accident occurred on Saturday in Bruno Zone, Lower Konge in Makindye Division, where two workers were electrocuted after coming into contact with high-voltage electricity lines running close to an unfinished building.
The Kampala Metropolitan Deputy Police Spokesperson, ASP Luke Owoyesigyire, identified the deceased as Basalira, a resident of the area.
He said preliminary findings showed the teenager was plastering an exterior wall on the second floor of the building when he accidentally touched live three-phase power lines.
‘Preliminary findings show that he was working on the second floor of an unfinished building, plastering an exterior wall located dangerously close to high-voltage, three-phase electricity lines. He accidentally came into contact with the live wires and was electrocuted instantly,’ ASP Owoyesigyire said.
A second worker, identified as Emmanuel Owemugisha, was also electrocuted when he attempted to help the teenager.
He survived the shock but was rushed to Mulago Hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
Police say detectives and Scene of Crime Officers documented the site, recorded witness accounts and transferred the body to the City Mortuary at Mulago for a postmortem examination. No arrests have been made as inquiries continue.
The Uganda Police Force urged construction companies, engineers and site workers to adhere to strict electrical safety standards, warning that structures built too close to high-voltage lines continue to put lives at risk.
Authorities advised builders to maintain minimum safe distances from power infrastructure and consult the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (UEDCL) or other licensed electrical bodies before constructing near live lines.
They also reminded employers to provide proper protective equipment to workers.
Police further cautioned the public against attempting to rescue electrocuted victims with bare hands, saying such actions often lead to secondary injuries. Instead, they advised switching off the power source or using dry, non-conductive materials to safely intervene.
Investigations into the Makindye incident are ongoing.