Three dead in Ugandan riots against Indian sugar company

AT LEAST three people were killed yesterday in violent protests against a Ugandan government decision to hive off swathes of protected forest for sugar plantation by an Indian company, police said.

Police spokesman Simeon Nsubuga said two people were killed as they tried to break into a shop in the capital while security forces were dispersing thousands of demonstrators as they turned against people of Asian origin.

Earlier, Kampala police chief Edward Ocwom said a man of Asian origin had died after being beaten by angry demonstrators, who also targeted other ethnic Asian people.