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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Deaths in Uganda forest protest | Deaths in Uganda forest protest |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| At least three people have died in Uganda during violence at a protest against plans to allocate forest land to a sugar company, police say. | At least three people have died in Uganda during violence at a protest against plans to allocate forest land to a sugar company, police say. |
| A suspected looter was shot by guards, a passer-by was hit by a stray bullet and an Asian man was stoned to death, while police have fired live bullets. | A suspected looter was shot by guards, a passer-by was hit by a stray bullet and an Asian man was stoned to death, while police have fired live bullets. |
| There have been several attacks on Asians in Kampala, and a Hindu temple has been damaged. | There have been several attacks on Asians in Kampala, and a Hindu temple has been damaged. |
| The sugar firm which wants to use part of the Mabira forest is Asian-owned. | The sugar firm which wants to use part of the Mabira forest is Asian-owned. |
| Environmentalists say the move threatens the existence of rare species of trees and birds in the 30,000 hectare forest. | |
| 'Frightening' | 'Frightening' |
| The march began quietly, with some 1,000 people marching through central Kampala, carrying placards and tree branches. | The march began quietly, with some 1,000 people marching through central Kampala, carrying placards and tree branches. |
| We were inside the temple and the protesters started attacking us from outside Dipaul Patel Talking point: Jobs vs the environment | We were inside the temple and the protesters started attacking us from outside Dipaul Patel Talking point: Jobs vs the environment |
| "People were demonstrating peacefully when there was a misunderstanding with the police. All of a sudden they opened fire," environmental activist Frank Muramuzi told Reuters news agency. | "People were demonstrating peacefully when there was a misunderstanding with the police. All of a sudden they opened fire," environmental activist Frank Muramuzi told Reuters news agency. |
| The BBC's Sarah Grainger in Kampala says protesters threw stones at the police and set fire to vehicles. | The BBC's Sarah Grainger in Kampala says protesters threw stones at the police and set fire to vehicles. |
| An Asian motorcyclist was attacked and later beaten to death, witnesses say. | An Asian motorcyclist was attacked and later beaten to death, witnesses say. |
| Our correspondent says the demonstration took on a racial dimension with some protestors blaming the country's Asian-Ugandan population for the situation because the parent company of the sugar firm, Mehta Grou, is owned by an Asian Ugandan. | |
| Reuters also reports that police had to rescue about 40 men from a Hindu temple after it was attacked by a mob. | Reuters also reports that police had to rescue about 40 men from a Hindu temple after it was attacked by a mob. |
| Some Asian residents were targeted by the protesters | |
| "We were inside the temple and the protesters started attacking us from outside," 50-year-old Dipaul Patel told Reuters. "It was very frightening." | "We were inside the temple and the protesters started attacking us from outside," 50-year-old Dipaul Patel told Reuters. "It was very frightening." |
| A police source says about 20 people have been arrested. | A police source says about 20 people have been arrested. |
| The Sugar Corporation of Uganda (Scoul), part of the Mehta group, 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. | Campaigners are now calling on Ugandans to boycott its sugar products. |
| In recent years, Ugandan Asians, including the owners of Mehta, have started to return to the country, after being expelled by Idi Amin in the 1970s. | In recent years, Ugandan Asians, including the owners of Mehta, 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. | They used to control much of the economy, sparking resentment among some Ugandans. |
| Text campaign | Text campaign |
| Parliament is yet to change the status of the forests and campaigners have threatened legal action if the forest is given away. | Parliament is yet to change the status of the forests and campaigners have threatened legal action if the forest is given away. |
| The police blocked the protesters | |
| 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. |
Were you at the protest? Use the form below to send us your experiences. Your phone number will not be published. | Were you at the protest? Use the form below to send us your experiences. Your phone number will not be published. |