Construction work is one of the leading sources of occupational injuries and fatalities in Uganda. This
paper set out to investigate the causes of construction accidents in Kampala, Uganda using ordinary least
squares regression and spatial regression modeling. A cross-sectional survey of 201 large-size building
projects commissioned by Kampala City Council in 2008 was undertaken. Data collected from the survey
was supplemented by building records from Kampala City Council, safety statistics from the Department
of Occupational Safety and Health, and accident investigation reports. The injury rate for Kampala is
deduced to be 3797 per 100,000 workers and the fatality rate is 84 per 100,000 workers. The three most
prevalent causes of accidents in Kampala are mechanical hazards (i.e. struck by machines, vehicles, hand
tools, cutting edges, etc.), being hit by falling objects and falls from height. Congestion, a phenomenon
which arises when there is evidence of high building density amidst many full time workers on site, is
discussed. Through spatial statistical analysis, construction accidents that occur at one location were
found to be related to those that occur in the neighborhood. To mitigate accidents occurrence, policies
on regulating working hours, provision of safety equipment, equipment maintenance and on standards
of acceptable building densities are suggested.