Kampala, Uganda – At least three people were injured on Sunday evening after a sauna explosion at Buziga Country Resort, a popular leisure facility located in Makindye Division, Kampala.
Eyewitnesses said the blast occurred in the evening when a loud explosion ripped through the sauna section of the resort, sparking panic among guests and staff. The victims were immediately evacuated and rushed to nearby health facilities for treatment.
Kampala Metropolitan deputy police spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire confirmed the incident, attributing it to a suspected technical malfunction in the sauna’s heating system.
“Our officers are on the ground to establish the actual cause of the explosion. For now, we can confirm that three people were injured, but no fatalities have been reported,” Owoyesigyire said.
The most seriously affected victim was identified as Hajjati Mastula, 69, the vice chairperson for Katuuso village, who sustained severe burns on the chest and back. Two other victims, Zahara Nakaweesi, who suffered burns and a broken leg, and Mamrum Aisha, who sustained severe burns across the body, were first taken to Kiruddu Hospital before being transferred to Nsambya and Mulago Hospitals.
Owoyesigyire said the explosion caused significant structural damage, with part of the sauna collapsing, walls developing cracks, and broken glass scattered across the premises. The rest of the facility, however, remained intact.
Management of Buziga Country Resort has not yet issued an official statement, though sources indicated that safety inspections are underway before reopening the affected sections.
The incident has reignited debate about the safety of leisure facilities in Kampala, with residents taking to social media to demand stricter enforcement of safety standards amid rising cases of accidents linked to faulty electrical and heating systems.
“Preliminary findings show it was a huge explosion, but the exact cause is not yet known. The scene and surrounding areas have been cordoned off,” Owoyesigyire added, noting that police will consult the National Building Review Board on structural and regulatory compliance, including how the sauna was built and how temperatures were regulated.
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