A 47-year-old worker from Mukono Municipality is fighting for his life at Mulago National Referral Hospital after a wall collapsed on his head and cracked it open during a demolition exercise in Gunga village, Mukono town.
Francis Mpalanyi sustained severe head injuries on Thursday when the incident occurred while he and other workers were pulling down illegal structures as part of the municipal council’s ongoing operation to enforce trade orders.
Witnesses, who spoke on condition of anonymity and declined to be recorded, described the chaotic moment. According to them, a breakdown lorry (tow truck) had just completed its role in the demolition.
Mpalanyi was reportedly tying a rope to secure the lorry when he instructed workers to pull down a remaining wall. As the wall came crashing down, it struck him heavily on the head, leaving him in a critical state.
He was immediately rushed to Mukono General Hospital for emergency treatment.
However, doctors there determined that his condition was beyond their capacity and referred him to Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala, where he is currently receiving intensive care.
Efforts to reach municipal council leaders for comment on the incident and the broader demolition exercise were unsuccessful.
The demolition of illegal market stalls and kiosks in Mukono entered its second day on Thursday, sparking panic among traders. The operation, aimed at clearing structures built without proper authorization, began around noon on Kame Close road before the team moved to Ngandu and Kigombya areas.
The exercise was jointly carried out by police, soldiers, and municipal enforcers—locally known as “abasanyalaze.” Teams first removed goods from the affected structures before proceeding to demolish kiosks, wooden stalls, tables, and other makeshift setups. Distraught traders were seen frantically trying to salvage their merchandise amid the destruction.
Several traders who spoke to this reporter expressed frustration over the manner in which the operation was conducted. They complained that they were not given sufficient time to remove their goods, resulting in significant financial losses.
“We should have been given at least enough time to clear our items,” one trader lamented. “Many of us have suffered huge losses today.”
The municipal council has not issued an official statement regarding the timeline of the operation or measures to mitigate losses for affected traders. The exercise is expected to continue in other parts of Mukono as authorities push to restore order in the market areas.
This incident comes as a stark reminder of the risks associated with demolition works, particularly when heavy machinery and manual labour are combined under potentially hurried conditions.
Mpalanyi’s family and colleagues are now appealing for support as he battles for survival at Mulago Hospital.
Mukono municipality Town clerk Francis Byabagabi said that the municipal will take care all the medical bills n other necessary requirement investigation is still on going.
