At least nine people died, most aged between 10 and 20, in a shopping mall crush as revelers rang in the New Year in Uganda’s capital, police said on Sunday.
After fireworks outside the Freedom City mall in Kampala, “a stampede ensued, resulting in the instant deaths of five people and injuries to several others,” national police spokesman Luke Owoyesigyire said.
Four others died on their way to hospital “largely due to suffocation.”
“Emergency responders arrived on the scene and transported the injured individuals to the hospital, where nine were confirmed dead,” said Owoyesigyire.
“Rash” acts and “negligence” led to the tragedy, he added.
The celebrations to welcome in 2023 were the first in the east African country in three years, after restrictions linked to the Covid-19 pandemic and security issues.
