Panic swept through Sports Pro Hostel (Lower), a residence for Kyambogo University students, after a suspected gas cylinder explosion ripped through the building Monday evening.
The hostel, which accommodates around 150 students, saw at least 10 rooms destroyed in the blast. While no fatalities have been reported, five students are battling serious injuries.
One female student was left with catastrophic wounds to her hands and legs, with doctors fighting to save her limbs. A male student was rushed to hospital after bleeding profusely, while the hostel’s security guard sustained severe facial injuries that witnesses described as “life-changing.”
Authorities swiftly evacuated all students, who have been told they cannot return until investigations into the explosion are complete. Officials said residents will be allowed back into the building tomorrow once the site is declared safe.
Preliminary reports suggest the blast may have been triggered by a gas cylinder that had not been properly sealed. Police and fire investigators remained at the scene late into the night, working to establish the full cause.
The incident has sent shockwaves through Kyambogo University’s student community, with many shaken by how narrowly tragedy was avoided.