Two people have been killed in Uganda during violence at a protest against government plans to allocate forest land to a sugar company, police say.
Two people have been killed in Uganda during violence at a protest against government plans to allocate forest land to a sugar company, police say.
A suspected looter was shot dead by security guards and a passer-by hit by a stray bullet, say the police, who have fired live bullets and tear gas.
A suspected looter was shot dead by security guards and a passer-by hit by a stray bullet, say the police, who have fired live bullets and tear gas.
There have been several attacks on Asians, leaving two people in hospital. The sugar company is Asian-owned.
There have been several attacks on Asians, leaving two people in hospital. A Hindu temple has also been damaged.
A third of the Mabira forest reserve has been earmarked to grow sugar.
The sugar firm which wants to use part of the Mabira forest is Asian-owned.
Environmentalists say the move threatens existence of rare species of trees and birds at the forest.
Environmentalists say the move threatens existence of rare species of trees and birds in the 30,000 hectare forest.
President Yoweri Museveni was re-elected for a third term in office last year and reports say plans to de-gazette the forest land have sparked divisions in the government.
'Frightening'
Text campaign
The march began quietly, with about 500 people marching through central Kampala, carrying placards and tree branches.
"People were demonstrating peacefully when there was a misunderstanding with the police. All of a sudden they opened fire," Frank Muramuzi, and environmental activist told Reuters news agency.
"People were demonstrating peacefully when there was a misunderstanding with the police. All of a sudden they opened fire," Frank Muramuzi, and environmental activist told Reuters news agency.
Sugar Corporation of Uganda (Scoul), part of the Asian-owned Mehta group, wants to expand its plantations in central Uganda.
The BBC's Sarah Grainger in Kampala says protesters threw stones at the police and set fire to vehicles.
Campaigners are now calling on Ugandans to boycott its sugar products to step up pressure against the government plans to hive the expansive forest land.
Reuters news agency reports that police had to rescue about 40 men from a Hindu temple after it was attacked by a mob.
The BBC's Sarah Grainger in Kampala says parliament is yet to change the status of the forests and campaigners have threatened legal action if the forest is given away.
"We were inside the temple and the protesters started attacking us from outside," 50-year-old Dipaul Patel told Reuters. "It was very frightening."
The Sugar Corporation of Uganda (Scoul), part of the Mehta group, owned by a Ugandan Asian, wants to expand its plantations in central Uganda, taking over one-third of the Mabira forest.
Campaigners are now calling on Ugandans to boycott its sugar products.
In recent years, Ugandan Asians have started to return to the country, after being expelled by Idi Amin in the 1970s.
They used to control much of the economy, sparking resentment among some Ugandans.
Text campaign
Parliament is yet to change the status of the forests and campaigners have threatened legal action if the forest is given away.
Public protests over the government plans have heightened in the capital and car bumper stickers urging people to save Mabira forest have become very popular, our correspondent says.
Public protests over the government plans have heightened in the capital and car bumper stickers urging people to save Mabira forest have become very popular, our correspondent says.
There has also been a text message campaign, urging people to take part in the protests.
There has also been a text message campaign, urging people to take part in the protests.
Supporters of Scoul's bid for more land say the expansion of would create more jobs and income for the country.
Supporters of Scoul's bid for more land say the expansion of would create more jobs and income for the country.
They dismiss those opposing the move saying subsistence farmers have already encroached on much of the forest land.
They dismiss those opposing the move saying subsistence farmers have already encroached on much of the forest land.
The kabaka, or king, of the local Buganda community has offered to give alternative land for the sugar company in a bid to save the hardwood forest.
The kabaka, or king, of the local Buganda community has offered to give alternative land for the sugar company in a bid to save the hardwood forest.
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