The joint Security Agencies have directed the owners of China Town Super Store to hire Counter Terrorism officers from the Uganda Police Force (UPF) before resuming operations.
This directive follows the temporary closure of the newly opened mega-store in Lugogo, which drew thousands of shoppers, prompting concerns over a potential terror threat in the country.
Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson, Patrick Onyango, explained that the decision to close the store on Monday evening was due to the unexpectedly large crowd, which posed a security risk.
“The private security guards were overwhelmed. The store had over 3,000 people, but there was only one entry and exit. We had to temporarily close the place to prevent a potential stampede in case of an emergency,” Onyango stated.
In a meeting between security officials and the store’s management, Onyango revealed that the owners have been instructed to bring in a counter-terrorism team before reopening.
“A congested area like this is always a target for terror threats. We’ve advised them to have Counter Terrorism officers in place to mitigate such risks. Once that’s done, they can reopen at any time,” he added.
The store had attracted large crowds due to the low prices, which created excitement among shoppers.
