KAMPALA – Abbey Musinguzi – the manager of Abtex Promotions and Marketing Agency was on Tuesday remanded to Luzira prisons until January 10, following a stampede that led to the death of 10 revellers at the Freedom City Mall on New Year.
Musinguzi, 52, appeared before the Makindye Grade I Magistrate Igga Adiru on nine counts of ‘Rush and Negligent,’ that led to the death of people contrary to Section 227 of the Penal Code Act.
According to particulars of the offence, Musinguzi, and others still at large on December 31, 2022, and January 1, 2023, at Freedom City, and in a manner described as ‘rush or negligent,’ endangered the lives of people through the closure most of outlets –leaving only a small gate that could not be used by more than 200 people to move out safely.
The dead have since been identified as Daniel Kibuuka, Ibrahim Kizito, Nakimati Nazama, Viola Nakanwagi, Mary Namyalo, Hadija Nakakande, Daniella Kibuuka, Shafiq Mwane, and Margaret Nakatumba while the tenth victim, who had died at a private clinic hasn’t been named – yet.
Abtex’s lawyer, Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, said that he had hoped that his client would be granted bail.
Lukwago expressed disappointment – describing the proceedings against Musinguzi as ‘ironical’ arguing that the owner of Freedom City Mall, John Sebalamu, his manager, and police officers who were hired to provide security should equally be arraigned in court for acts of negligence.
Earlier on Monday, Maj Jessica Alupo –the Vice President visited the scene to condole with the bereaved families.
Alupo carried Ugx5m in condolences from government for each of the families that lost their loved ones in the stampede.
