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.

“I have just confirmed that one Indian who was beaten by rioters has just died at Mulago hospital,” he said.

Police fired live ammunition and tear gas into the air to disperse the crowd, who responded by hurling stones.

Later, military police moved in, beating the demonstrators to break up the crowds. The demonstrators were rallying against the plan to clear around 7,000 of the 30,000 hectares (75,000 acres) in Mabira Forest Reserve east of Kampala.

The government plans to seek parliamentary approval before handing over the forest land to Indian-owned Mehta Group for sugar cane farming, a move that has angered conservationists and opposition lawmakers.

They have warned that further encroachment of the forest would threaten up to 312 species of trees, 287 species of bird and 199 of butterflies.

In December, Norwegian environmentalist Olav Bjella quit as National Forestry Authority chief over the issue.

Officers had to evacuate about 100 people of Asian origin who had sought safety in a temple, said Ugandan police chief Major General Kale Kaihura.

“We have evacuated some people from an Indian temple because some protestors tried to target them,” he said. They were taken to a city police station. Visibly shaken, members of the rescued group described how several people had been injured in riots that had forced businesses to shut down.

“This is very bad because they are beating innocent people,” said Rajesh Patel, a trader. Some protesters carried anti-Indian and anti-government placards.

“All Indians should go back to Bombay,” read one.

The protestors also chanted slogans in praise of former dictator Idi Amin, who expelled around 50,000 Asian merchants from Uganda in 1972.