Double Tragedy! Police To Press Charges Against Parents Of Children Who Died In Freedom City Stampede On New Year’s Eve
By Uganda Online Media
Uganda police said their team is considering pressing charges of negligence against parents of minors who died during a stampede at Freedom City mall which saw 10 people die on New Year’s eve.
While addressing the media at the police headquarters in Naguru this afternoon police spokesperson, Fred Enanga revealed that following the arrest of music promoter, Abby Musinguzi aka Abitex, the parents of the minors also have charges to answer.
Enanga further noted that they are also hunting for other event organisers who were part of the fateful event adding that Abitex is charged with negligence that could have caused the death of 10 people.
According to Enanga, the stampede came when the MC of the event made an announcement for the revellers to move out to watch a fireworks display and return in one exit.
“Security had locked four other exits and entries and the revellers had to use one point of entry and exit. Therefore, several victims were trapped and tramped upon through the narrow passage which became a bottleneck for many, mostly juveniles,” Enanga said.
While police at Katwe insisted they had inspected the venue and had passed all the tests including multiple entries and exit points with the presence of Counter Terrorism Police officers who were in charge of the fireworks display, Enanga revealed that later, when the event started, police was tasked with manning the outer security which included screening those who were entering whereas the organizer was in charge of the inner security.
The event hosted about 5,000 revellers and police are examining whether Abitex and his team followed the security and health guidelines issued to them when the event was okayed.
