By Mulengera Reporters
At exactly 3.30pm, early warning fire outbreak alarm systems triggered and went off on each and every floor of the newly unveiled Pearl Towers.
Located along Yusuf Lule Road, the glittering Pearl Towers belongs to Kampala’s renowned property mogul Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia and it has Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) among other big-name tenants.
Many expatriates, ostensibly attracted by the comfort that comes with operating from the upscale Kololo neighborhood, also have individual and corporate offices in the same multi-storied building.
There was total chaos and stampeding as safety-breached employers were on Thursday afternoon forced to evacuate their staff as fire outbreak-warning alarm bells went off and kept growing louder for more than an hour.
Ugandans and expatriates working from that same building were seen fleeing for their lives as fears grew that fire outbreak-related breaches were imminent.
It was such a terrifying scene to the extent that many had to abandon their work stations, leaving behind personal belongings such as phones, laptops and car keys. Some were having late lunch and had to abandon their meal, mid-way upon seeing their workmates fleeing to safety.
The evacuating staff were even unable to use the lifts because the same was considered too risky as emergency response services were being awaited.
The evacuating staff, in their hundreds, were made to converge some safe distance away from the building along Yusuf Lule Road, as management sought emergency intervention.
At the time of posting this story (a few minutes to 4pm) staff having offices on the otherwise swanky and comfortable-looking tower were still in total shock. And the affected employers and their staffers were still keeping some safe distance away from the building as management put together a team of knowledgeable experts to investigate details surrounding the impugned fire incidence.
The boda riders operating at the adjacent stage helplessly looked on as employers, their staff and clients (who had visited) stampeded and fled the building to find safety some distance away. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
