There was a sombre mood at the Kampala Capital City Authority – KCCA mortuary in Mulago National Referral Hospital as families received the bodies of the Freedom City Mall stampede.
Nine people died in the stampede that preceded the fireworks display. By Sunday, the death toll had risen to 10 after another person believed to be 17 years died.
They were attending a musical show organized by popular Uganda Music promoter, Abbey Musinguzi, alias Abtex.
According to a doctor who spoke to us on condition of anonymity, the deceased whose identity has not yet been established died at a private clinic near Freedom City Mall, along Entebbe Road where he was rushed.
The nine bodies, most of whom were juveniles, had been received by their relatives for burial. Funeral ambulances and other vehicles collected the bodies amid sobbing by relatives.
In an earlier statement released by the Kampala Metropolitan Police – KMP Deputy Public Relations Officer, Luke Owoyesigyire, investigations into what they described as a ‘rush and negligent act had commenced.
Police alleged that the Master of Ceremony encouraged the revellers to go outside the mall to watch the fireworks display. After the display ended, a stampede ensued, resulting in the instant deaths of five people while scores sustained injuries. Police are yet to release the identities of the victims.
Meanwhile, Owoyesigyire says that part of the Freedom City mall has been closed to allow for investigations.
Another event that was supposed to be held at the Mall was cancelled. The area where the incident happened has been cordoned off.
