Nine people have died following a stampede during New Year’s celebrations at Freedom City Mall in Namasuba – a popular mall in Uganda’s capital, Kampala.
The stampede left at least nine people dead, including children as revelers rushed to watch fireworks at the mall in Namasuba, police said Sunday.
The shopping mall is a choice location for musical parties and new year celebrations.
The Kampala Metropolitan deputy police spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigyire added that the incident appeared to have occurred at midnight “when an event emcee encouraged attendees to go outside and watch a fireworks display.”
No arrests have been made so far but the Katwe Territorial Police are “investigating an incident of rash (behaviour) and neglect” according to an official statement.
Police said five people died at the venue and four others died of multiple injuries at the hospital where they had been taken for treatment.
The bodies have been been moved to the city mortuary in Mulago.