The Judicial Service Commission has resolved to relocate its offices from Lotis Tower building in Kampala after the 14-level structure developed cracks.
The building, located on Mackinnon Road, Kampala, has also been condemned by the National Building Review Board (NARK) and the Ministry of Works.
Dr Rose Nassali Lukwago, the Secretary to the JSC, on Thursday said they were taking the advice of the building experts to vacate the premises.
She said they have asked some of their staff to be working from home as they shift their property.
This comes after Kampala Capital City Authority on Wednesday ordered all the people working from the building to vacate.
The National Building Review Board (NBRB) ordered the evacuation of occupants from a 14-level office block known as Lotis Towers on Mackinnon Road, Kampala, due to concerns of the structural integrity of the building.
After being alerted to defects in the structure, NBRB sent a team of engineers to visit the site on Tuesday August 16, to conduct a preliminary assessment.
The NBRB engineers discovered a compression failure of a reinforced concrete column on the 6th Floor of the modern office facility. Several columns with similar signs of failure were observed in the basement.
NBRB has recommended the evacuation of the building for safety of the occupants and the neighbourhood, while a comprehensive structural integrity assessment of the entire building is conducted to inform the next actions to be taken.
Roko Construction Co. Ltd completed construction of Lotis Towers in 2019.
But the owner of LOTIS Towers seemed to have downplayed the urgency of the matter stating in a notice that “The column on the 6th Floor had a minor crack. Our structural engineers have examined the crack and their opinion is the building is safe for occupation. In the meantime, ROKO Construction is ready onsite to repair the crack.”
“Management gives the greatest assurance to all tenants and stake holders of the structural integrity of the building and encourages all to continue enjoying our facilities,” added Lotis Towers Management.
There has been an increase in the number of collapsing buildings in Kampala, which have claimed many lives and left many others with lifelong injuries, but people should be aware that there are multiple authorities in charge of planning and ensuring constructions meet legal criteria.
Property developers intending to raise structures within Kampala must first apply for development approval, and acquire a development authorisation certificate, according to new rules released by Mr Vincent Byendaimira, commissioner at the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development early this year
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