Nine people are killed after stampede at Ugandan shopping mall as revellers rang in the New Year 

At least nine people, including a ten-year-old boy, died in a shopping mall crush in Uganda’s capital on Sunday as revellers trying to see the New Year fireworks became trapped in a corridor.

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,’ Ugandan police said. 

‘Emergency responders arrived on the scene and transported the injured individuals to the hospital, where nine were confirmed dead.’

Crowds rushed to see a New Year’s firework display but got stuck in a narrow corridor, a police statement said. 

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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,’ Ugandan police said (Stock image)

It read: ‘Very many people got stuck as they were entering in large numbers to see fireworks. In doing so, many people suffocated to death. So far nine people are confirmed dead.’ 

People had been celebrating the New Year at the mall which is on a highway linking Kampala to Entebbe airport. 

In a tweet, Uganda Police Force said: ‘The Katwe Territorial Police are investigating an incident of rash and neglect that occurred at a New Year’s Eve event at the Freedom City Mall Namasuba and resulted in the deaths of nine people, including several juveniles.

The stampede happened outside Freedom City Mall in Kampala as people celebrated the New Year (Pictured are the NYE fireworks at Miracle Center Cathedral in Kampala’

‘It is alleged that the incident occurred at midnight when the event’s MC encouraged attendees to go outside and watch the fireworks display. 

‘After the display ended, a stampede ensued, resulting in the instant deaths of five people and injuries to several others.  

Police said the bodies of the deceased have been transferred to City Mortuary Mulago and that more information will be provided once it becomes available.