Freedom City Mall Stampede: Promoter Abitex Arrested

Police confirmed arrest of Abbey Musinguzi of Abitex Promotions, who is currently being held at the Criminal Investigation Directorate (CID) headquarters in Kibuli, Kampala.

According to Police Spokesman Fred Enanaga, Musinguzi, alias Abitex, organised the End of Year concert at Freedom City Mall in Namasuba along Entebbe Road in Wakiso District where 10 people died during a stampede.

He is being investigated for negligence alongside other organizers who are still on the run.

Enanga said that the concert attracted more than 500 concertgoers but disaster struck when the emcee told them to move out to watch fireworks displays.

Enanga said during a Monday media briefing: "The celebrations were going well until that moment when the master of ceremony recklessly made the announcement for the concertgoers to move out and watch the fireworks in the parking and probably thereafter return to the concert.”

Unfortunately, the mall had only one exit open at the time and people crowded in one spot.

“The packed crowd became dangerous after the rush for fireworks from the hall through a narrow corridor to the only exit and entry point… the local security guards had locked all the other gates of the about four other exits and entries. So, as a result, several victims were trapped, others trampled upon through the narrow passage, which became a real bottleneck for some of the juveniles,” he said.