Police in Kampala have launched a probe to ascertain the circumstances under which a renowned city events promoter was reportedly assaulted by a local fireworks company boss.

The incident occurred on January 1st, a few minutes after fireworks in a Kampala City suburb of Kamokya went haywire.

WHAT HAPPENED?

The fireworks managed by Jwala Fireworks Company had been contracted by Namaste Restaurant, located behind City Oil Kamokya next to Acacia Mall.

Not known for the provision of this highly security-sensitive service, Jwala management is said to have hired the services of a fireworks blaster who was drunk at the time and arranged the fireworks in a wrong manner.

At exactly 12:00 AM, the fireworks were blasted; however, instead of the usual sky-high fires, these ones went sideways towards the excited crowd and walls.

According to the manager of Namaste Restaurant, Kaiwan Banji, there were three fireworks set up in a wrong manner, posing life-threatening incidences, adding that there was potential risk of lives and property being in danger.

His complaints to the owners of the Fireworks Company immediately after the incidents, however, attracted fury instead of apology from Jwala Fireworks management.

He says when the misfires occurred, he called Amitesh, one of the managers of Jwala Fireworks Company, by 12:04 AM three times, but he didn’t pick up his calls, only to revert back to him after 10 minutes.

Banji says the first Jwala employee to respond to the scene was one Baker, who indeed, after seeing the shells, confirmed that there was a mistake made by the fireworks blaster.

He says Nirav later called him asking whether there had been any damage to property and lives but in a very rude manner.

Hell was let loose when Nirav and his boss, Amitesh, the owner of Jwala Fireworks Company, drove into his restaurant past 1:00 AM, both evidently drunk, and physically assaulted him, raining blows on him Tyson style.

The police that were later called in to calm the situation also confirmed that the fireworks blaster was drunk and arrested him.

Banji has reported a case of assault at Acacia Police Post, vide Police Case No. 37/02/01/2025 and investigation has since kicked off into the incident.

Asked what prompted the assault, Banji says the Fireworks blaster demanded money for his transport back home after the debacle, which he refused to give because he wanted answers from his bosses first.

 “After that, Nirav, manager of Reliance supermarket, called twice on my number still to abuse me and asking me to wait at Namaste; after a little while, he came to the restaurant along with Amitesh, owner of Reliance supermarket, and Jwala Fireworks, both of them drunk, and both of them physically assaulted me (attached is the video), verbally abused me, and called the police,” he says.

CCTV footage seen by this reporter shows Banji helplessly being punched by both Nirav and Amitesh in the presence of the police before they loaded their fireworks equipment onto a truck.

What waits to be seen is the action taken by the police force against its errant and overzealous staff and the management of Jwala Fireworks. 

A written complaint has also been submitted by the event organizer to the chairman of the Indian association. 

The community and businesses community at large await to see whether a fair judgment and action will come out or a sweep under the carpet because of the usual bureaucracy and corruption.

The management of Jwala Fireworks Company Limited is yet to issue an explanation to this incident. Attempts to reach them proved futile after several repeated calls to the manager.