Kampala, Uganda: Event Promoter Abbey Musinguzi aka Abitex, the manager of Abtex Promotions and Marketing Agency has been remanded to Luzira prisons following the death of 10 revellers at the Freedom City Mall on new year’s eve.
Musinguzi, 52 on Tuesday appeared before the Makindye Grade One Magistrate Igga Adiru to answer charges related to Rush and Negligent act that led to the death of people contrary to section 227 of the penal code act.
Musinguzi faces nine counts. He was remanded until January 10.
According to particulars of the offense, Musinguzi and others still at large on December 31, 2022, and January 1, 2023, at Freedom City in a manner of rush or negligent put to danger the lives of people by closing other outlets, leaving one small gate that could heardly be used by more than 20,000 people to move out safely.
The dead include Ibrahim Kizito, Margaret Nakatumba, Nakimati Nazama, , Mary Namyalo, Daniel Kibuuka, Haddijja Nakakande, Kibuuka Daniella, Shafiq Mwane, and Viola Nakanwagi .
Abitex’s lawyer Erias Lukwago said that he had hoped that his client would be granted bail.
Lukwago expressed disappointment and described 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.