Uganda police force has cleared 762 places across the country where fireworks will be displayed as Ugandans plan to enter the New Year 2019.
SSP Emilian Kayima the police spokesperson says those cleared have been given strict guidelines to adhere to, failure of which will attract severe penalties which might include stopping them from the exercise.
Police has also cleared 6 companies to display fireworks and these are; Ms Tomi Fireworks Ltd, Ms. Sky Flames (U) Ltd, Ms, Quality Lighting Ltd, Ms Extreme Events Ltd, Ms Goshen Africa Events Ltd and Ms Light Africa (U) Ltd.
According to SSP Kayima, the cleared companies are mandated to advertise widely on all media platforms, have fireworks materials not exceeding 1.5mm caliber, Display only 5 minutes, the area DPCs reserve the right to stop any display if those displaying defy guidelines.
Also, all fireworks materials will be escorted by the police counter terrorism teams, all materials not displayed will be handed over to the terrorism teams for safe custody, those to conduct the exercise of display must be persons with explosives blaster license, and all venues to host the displays will be inspected to ensure suitability by the counter terrorism teams together with area police commanders.
Again, members of the public are warned against burning car tyres in the middle of the roads or elsewhere as this has consequences. The public should be careful and sensitive to what actually happens as we welcome the New Year. Some criminal elements might attack and injure or kill their victims whose alarms might be mistaken for the excitement welcoming the New Year Kayima warned.
He also warned motorists across the country to exercise discipline on the roads to avoid causing accidents. Our traffic teams and the Highway Traffic Patrol Units are carefully briefed and deployed to oversee everyones safety and security on the roads and highways he further warned.
We advise members of the public to remain vigilant and alert to detect and deter any form of criminality through effective communication and coordination with security in the areas. It is therefore imperative that all keep the relevant telephone numbers of their area police stations police added.