Uganda's Mapeera House Not Destroyed by Earthquake; Image is AI-Generated

False claims are circulating on social media, particularly TikTok and Facebook, alleging that Uganda's prominent Mapeera House has been destroyed by an earthquake. The posts, which have garnered over a million views, feature images of the 19-storey building appearing heavily damaged, with captions stating, "Strong earthquake has destroyed Mapeera house" or "Centenary head offices in Kampala near City Square Mapeera House was strongly damaged by earthquake today at 9 pm."

The claim emerged following a magnitude 4.4-4.5 earthquake that struck Uganda on the night of May 31, with tremors felt across the capital, Kampala. Residents reported shaking buildings and rattling windows. Mapeera House, a recognizable landmark and the headquarters of Centenary Bank, one of Uganda's largest local banks, is situated prominently on Kampala Road.

However, investigations reveal the claim is untrue. Uganda's Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development reported no significant damage or loss of life from the earthquake. Crucially, a reverse image search of the viral photos indicates they are AI-generated. The altered images bear an exact resemblance to the original photo of Mapeera House in terms of camera angle, lighting, street layout, and visible elements, suggesting the original was digitally manipulated to simulate catastrophic structural damage.

Furthermore, no credible news reports or official statements from Centenary Bank or other reliable sources have confirmed any earthquake damage to Mapeera House. Given the building's significance, any substantial damage would have undoubtedly attracted widespread media attention, yet no such coverage exists.