The greedy acts of the event organizers at Freedom City caused the death of 10 people while dozens escape with severe injuries just minutes into the year 2023.
Police spokesperson CP Fred Enanga told journalist in the weekly press conference held at Naguru based police headquarters early this week
He said that the organizers were only mindful of generating huge profits at the expense of the safety of the revealers.
In his address, Enanga said that the organizers of the event ordered for the closer of all entrances save one were people inside the venue used to go out to the parking yard were fireworks were being blown.
According to the preminaly investigation,the numbers was overwhelming to use one exit to the parking yard to watch the fireworks meant for ushering in the new year and this caused other people to step on others hence causing the loss of 10 lives.
Although the manager of the venue refused to talk to journalists after the incidence, Police’s statement sharply contradicted with that of the Vice President which indicated that there were 20,000 people in attendance while Enanga had earlier told reporters that there were only 5000.
Government gave gave each family of the deceased Ugx 5 million to help to cover the burial and other expenses.
This was revealed by the Vice President Rtd Maj. Jessica Alupo in another press conference held at the tragedy venue on January 2,2023.
I was instructed by the president to oversee that the families of the deceased persons receive each UGX 5 million to help them in burial arrangements and other expenses, to also ensure that thorough investigations are done to find out what exactly caused the death and report to him thereafter.’’ Maj. Alupo said.
The deceased include; Margret Nakatumba,Maria Namyala, Daniel Kibuuka, Hadja Nakakande, Ibrahim Kizito, Hadja Nakamati, Viola Nakanwagi and Shafic Mwanje while the other was un identified and all these were buried to their respective accentral homes.
By George Bukenya