Uganda :9 Killed in New Year’s Eve Stampede

At least nine people, including children, died in a stampede as citizens rang in the new year at a shopping centre in Uganda’s capital, police announced on Sunday.

Luke Owoyesigyire, a national police spokesperson, noted that fireworks set off outside the Freedom City mall in Kampala. 

He added that “a stampede ensued, resulting in the instant deaths of five people and injuries to several others.”

Four people died on their way to the hospital, “largely due to suffocation,” the spokesperson said. “Emergency responders arrived on the scene and transported the injured individuals to the hospital, where nine were confirmed dead.”

Meanwhile, a local police spokesperson, Patrick Onyango, indicated: “Most of the dead were juveniles, ages 10, 11, 14, and 20. There are several injured and our team of investigators are following up to get the exact number.”

One of the survivors, Sylvia Nakalema, 27, a businesswoman, pointed out that the crush started when people went to view the fireworks on a platform and were returning downstairs.

She mentioned: “There was a huge crowd. People began pushing each other for space, leading some to fall, and the stampede ensued. Children were crying and there was chaos. I survived because I was pushed into a corner by the crowd."

“I felt losing breath but I stayed put since I had no exit until the situation calmed down, but some people were already lying down gasping for breath.”