Police has issued summons to among others the proprietor of Freedom City Mall in Namasuba as part of investigations into the tragic New Year concert incident, where 10 concert goers died.
According to the force spokesman Fred Enanga, police has charged the promoter of the event on 1st Jan 2023, a one Abby Musinguzi, with 9 counts of Rash or Negligent Acts causing death in accordance to Section 227 of the Penal Code Act.
The new development, Enanga said, followed legal guidance from the office of the DPP, after establishing that there were defects in the planning and control of the concert, that cost the lives of 9 concert goers and put others at risk.
“We have now summoned for questioning; the proprietor of the venue, the managers, other organizers of the event, the masters of ceremony, ushers, bouncers and private security guards who were dedicated to the event. Also summoned are police officers and other security personnel who were deployed to secure the event. At a later stage, we shall listen to the parents to some of the children to establish how they separated from them and got trapped in the passageway and gates.” Enanga stated in an update report.
It is alleged that when it clocked midnight on 31st December 2022, the MC of the event allowed the revellers who were in hundreds to exit the venue to be able to watch fireworks which urshered in the new year. However, a stampede ensued as the excited revellers rushed back to the venue in which 10 people were crushed to death including juveniles.
Section 227 of the Penal Code states that; Any person who, by any rash or negligent act not amounting to manslaughter, causes the death of another person is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years or to a fine not exceeding seventy thousand shillings or to both such imprisonment and fine.
Enanga revealed that police will soon issue a comprehensive list of guidelines on various aspects of planning and managing events. in order to avoid a repeat of simillar incidents in future.
