Ugandan police are investigating a stampede at a New Year’s event in Kampala that killed at least nine people, including many children.
The deadly stampede took place in front of Freedom City Mall, where a New Year’s Eve party was being held. According to the police, at midnight the master of ceremonies asked the public to come out to watch the fireworks.
Lucas Oyesiegiri, the deputy spokesman for the Kampala Metropolitan Police explained that after the end of the parade, there was a stampede, killing five people and injuring several others.
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Paramedics arrived on the scene and took the injured to hospital, where nine deaths were confirmed.
Haji Kimera, whose grandchildren died in the unfortunate incident, spoke to VOA by telephone.
During the call, Kimera explained that the kids one whom just got promoted to seventh grade and the other to sixth grade, died during the incident.
Millions of Ugandans have joined the rest of the world in welcoming 2023, the first time the New Year has been greeted with massive celebrations in two years due to COVID-19.
