Preliminary Police investigations revealed another extra death at Freedom City Mall January 1, 2023 tragedy taking the total to 11 people including a 3 year old baby whose parents are yet to be known
The tragedy occurred when the master of ceremonies during the concert asked revelers to move out and watch a fireworks display and in the event they stepped on each other because the number overwhelmed the single exit that was left open.
Police spokesperson, CP. Fred Enanga while addressing reporters at Naguru based headquarters revealed that they have recorded statements from various groups of people attached to the concert including the venue proprietor, John Ssebalamu, other organizers, private security guards, police officers, survivors, and CCTV footage.
“The facts so far gathered indicate that the proprietor of the Freedom City Mall made an agreement with the promoter Abby Musinguzi (Abitex) with clear terms and conditions in which the organizer was to provide adequate security and crowd control for the event and venue . Under the agreement, the organizer was also tasked to provide first aid , fire and emergency arrangements for the event depending on the type, nature and scale of the event.” CP Enanga said.
Enanga also said that, on December, 14, Abitex was granted permission to organize the event but with specific security and safety guidelines to be followed, adding that on December, 30, the Katwe Divisional Police Commander and his team met with the organisers at the venue before inspecting and clearing it.
He also explained that it was agreed during the meeting that Abitex’s team would man the inner ring to secure cash collections and to this, the team hired bouncers and private security guards for that function.
“It was further established that counter terrorism police were in charge of access control, search, K9 venue, explosive sweeps, snap checks, intelligence and armed men while the police at Katwe was in charge of the outer ring which extended to the parking, traffic control, external environment and patrols.”
The investigations by police indicate that on December, 31, the management of Freedom City handed over the venue plus the children’s play area to Abitex for the event after being assured that every perquisite guideline had or was to be adhered to.
“All the padlocks to the gates and doors were removed by the management of Freedom City before the venue was handed over to Abitex to show that he now had full authority over the venue. The findings also indicate that Abitex was warned about the potential crowd control and safety concerns by police.
The preventive guidelines were clearly spelt out to him during the concert preparations and made aware as organisers of their duty to hire private security, provide emergency medical services control crowds and forge evacuation routes,”Enanga said.
Police also says that Abtex didn’t apply for fireworks display but rather management of the mall contracted Extreme events to display fireworks on behalf of the entire mall.
This revelation shows it was wrong for the organizers of the event at Freedom City to ask revelers as it was reported to go and watch a fireworks display that they had not organized and planned for which eventually led to stampede.
The police spokesperson insisted that the organizers disregarded the measures and guidelines put in place by security as they fronted profits more than the lives of the revelers.
“The organizers put profit over the safety of the revelers. They disregarded the safety and security protocol in the management of a large concert and issued a dangerous directive to bouncers to lock all the other four doors that led to death of 11 concert goers and hospitalization of eight others.” CP Enanga explained
Whereas police have been blamed by members of the public for abrogating their role of protecting people by ensuring the set safety guidelines are followed by revelers during the Freedom City concert, the latest information shows that the law and order enforcement force has washed itself clean of any wrongdoing by blaming organizers for disregarding the guidelines.
Police says not even the proprietor of the concern venue; businessman John Ssebalamu or its officers are to blame for the unfortunate incident but rather the organizers.
Police also blames the event master of ceremony, Francis Elvis Jjuuko of recklessness when he informed revelers to move out to the children’s yard and watch fireworks without alerting the bouncers and local private guards to open the gates.
By George Bukenya