New Year’s Eve organizer charged with murder in Uganda stampede

KAMPALA, Uganda — The death toll in a stampede at a shopping mall during New Year celebrations in Uganda’s capital has risen to 10, the country’s vice president said on Monday, while police charged the organizer of the event with murder.

Vice President Jessica Alupo, who visited the scene in Kampala, told reporters that another person died on Sunday evening from their injuries after being caught in the crush of hundreds of people trying to leaving the Freedom City Mall site through a single door when the emcee encouraged them to watch a fireworks display.

Four children, aged 10 to 17, were among the dead. Police said they are investigating how they gained access to the event, as minors must be accompanied to such gatherings by a responsible adult. Police said the organizer did not follow this directive.

Police spokesman Patrick Onyango said organizer Abbey Musinguzi was facing murder charges as “custody charges” before facing trial.

Uganda’s vice president said the government would pay the family of each victim $1,350 to help with burial costs.