Hindi bababa sa siyam katao ang namatay, karamihan ay nasa pagitan ng edad ng 10 at 20, sa nangyaring stampede sa isang shopping mall sa panahon ng pagsasaya sa Bagong Taon sa kabisera ng Uganda.

Sinabi ng tagapagsalita ng national police na si Luke Owoyesigyire, “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. 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. ‘Rash’ acts and ‘negligence’ led to the tragedy.”

Ang selebrasyon sa pagsalubong sa 2023 sa Kampala ang una sa loob ng tatlong taon, makaraang magpatupad ng mga restriksiyon dahil sa pandemya at mga isyu sa seguridad.

Sinabi naman ni Kampala police spokesman Patrick Onyango, “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.”

Kuwento ng isa sa mga nakaligtas, ang negosyanteng si Sylvia Nakalema, “Stampede started ‘when we went to view the fireworks on the platform and while returning downstairs.’ There was a huge crowd. People begun 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 in a corner by the crowd.”

Dagdag pa ng 27-anyos na si Nakalema, “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.”

Noong 2009, isa ang namatay at tatlo ang nasaktan sa nangyaring stampede sa Kansanga amusement sa Kampala.

© Agence France-Presse