It was a wild night of celebrations and booze-fuelled mayhem on the streets of Kampala, Mbarara, Jinja, Gulu among others on New Year’s eve as revellers welcomed in 2017 – and no one was caring about religious norms.
Thousands of raucous party-goers packed out pubs and clubs, with some women braving the freezing temperatures in skimpy dresses.
However, as Ugandans waved goodbye to 2016, there were some unsavoury scenes with fights breaking out.
In one particularly unsightly incident, Traffic Police in Mbarara on Sunday night arrested 14 people including 2 Muslims, for allegedly driving while drunk in the Fika Salaama operation conducted during the New Year celebrations.
The Rwizi regional traffic boss, Patrick Mungasa said that the arrested were picked around Mbarara town on December 31st during the New Year celebrations.
Mungasa adds that the Fika Salama operation will continue to ensure road safety through the New Year.
Relatedly, Mbarara Police also arrested a Stanbic bank worker, Dastan Atwijukire, 29, for allegedly knocking dead three people.
Atwijukire, was on his way to Kampala where he works when he rammed into a group of people who were coming from night prayers to usher the New Year, killing three on spot and injuring two others.
The accident happened on Sunday at about 6:30am at milo two along Mbarara- Masaka road.
The deceased were identified as Maria Nkurumbi, a 58-year-old resident of Kabateraine village Kakiika division in Mbarara municipality, Twaziwa Naziwa Edith, a 26-years-old resident of Katojo cell Kakiika division and Nakyeyune Decakiwe, 17.