Police have arrested the owner of Marco’s Gym and Spa on charges of rash and negligence after a bath steam boiler exploded causing damage on the three storeyed building in Kyaliwajala on Naalya-Namugongo Road, Kira Municipality in Wakiso District.
The incident that happened at 5.30pm on Sunday caused a huge blast, which many thought to be a bomb prompting Counter Terrorism team to rush to the scene.
Although no one was seriously injured, police officers say the owner could have neglected her duties of ensuring that the machine meet health standards. At least five people sustained injuries and were rushed to different clinics.
Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy spokesman, Assistant Superintendent of Police Luke Owoyesigyire said the suspect is being interrogated by Kira Division Police.
“The victims were evacuated. Our teams have examined the scene and their findings will give us a way forward on the case,” Mr Owoyesigyire said.
Police preliminary findings indicate that the blast was due to a steam bath boiler which had damaged valves that sealed the hot pressure from being released from a container that was being heat.
Yesterday, Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesman, Patrick Onyango said the victims were the employees of the Spa. He however, said they sustained minor injuries.
“Preliminary investigations show that the explosion was caused by the steam bath boiler resulting from excessive heating. It is suspected that the control valve in the boiler could have been faulty. The gas escaped from the sealed metallic container causing a mechanical explosion, which damaged houses within the vicinity. The victims were evacuated and the scene of crime cordoned off,” Mr Onyango said.
The manager of Marco Gym and Spa only identified as Mercy said there were no customers in the sauna at the time of the explosion.
Paul Tumusiime, a security guard at one of the neighbouring buildings, said there was shaking before the actual explosion, which lasted for some minutes.
“It was like an earthquake and afterward it exploded like a bomb. In the next few minutes people hurried to get out of all the neighbouring buildings,” he said, adding that: “Those who were in the affected building also ran for their dear lives as many were shouting, causing a scene, which paralysed traffic on the already jammed road.”
