By Spy Uganda
Ugandan police has on Monday revealed that they have arrested a shopping mall manager and a concert MC over a deadly stampede at a New Year’s Eve party, bringing the total detained over the tragedy to three.
Ten people, mainly children, lost their lives in the crush at the Freedom City mall in the capital Kampala as revellers pushed through a single exit to watch a midnight fireworks show.
Kampala metropolitan police spokesman Patrick Onyango said that the party’s MC, Elvis Francis Juuko, had gone on the run but was arrested on Friday in Mityana, 60 kilometres (37 miles) west of Kampala.
“Juuko has been brought back to Kampala and is in police custody. He has been charged with rash and negligent acts,” Onyango said.
Onyango says it was “rash” acts and “negligence” that led to the tragedy.
The celebrations to welcome the new year were the first in the East African country since restrictions linked to the COVID-19 pandemic and security issues were lifted.
