Police have arrested events promoter Abbey Musinguzi, aka Abitex, following the New Year stampede at Freedom City that claimed 10 lives.
Police spokesperson Fred Enanga said Abitex faces charges of negligence since the show was organised by his company, Abitex Promotions and Emma Promotions at Freedom City—dubbed Party after Party.
He also explained that the parents of the children below 18 years who died in this stampede face charges of negligence.
Enanga said they are also hunting for other event organisers who were part of the fateful event.
According to Enanga, facts indicate that more than 500 revellers were celebrating the end of the year and ushering of the New Year.
“The celebrations went well until the MC recklessly announced to the concertgoers to move out and watch fireworks display in the parking,” he said.
He said the rush for fireworks from the hall through a narrow corridor to the only existing entry point led to panic because the local security guards had locked all other exits.
“As a result, several victims were trapped, and others were trampled upon through the narrow passage,” Enanga said.
Maria Namyalo, the 30-year-old proprietor of the famous Pentagon Salon in Ndejje, was one of the revellers who died at the hands of the wild stampede.
In an earlier interview, Abitex said by the time the stampede happened, he had gone outside. He claimed he informed security at the venue of what was happening and they intervened.
“I later heard the police pronouncing that some people were dead,” he told us via telephone.
