Deaths in Uganda forest protest - BBC

[Eugene]

Source: BBC

Last Updated: Thursday, 12 April 2007, 10:13 GMT 11:13 UK

Deaths in Uganda forest protest

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.

-snip-

A third of the Mabira forest reserve has been earmarked to grow sugar.

-snip-

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.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6548107.stm

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Source: Reuters


Three killed in Uganda protest, Asians targeted
12 Apr 2007 11:50:07 GMT
Source: Reuters

(adds troops deployed, details, quotes)

By Francis Kwera and Euan Denholm

KAMPALA, April 12 (Reuters) - A mob stoned to death an Asian man
in Uganda on Thursday and two other people were killed when a protest
at plans to axe parts of a rainforest reserve to grow sugarcane turned
violent, police and witnesses said.

Troops in several armoured cars were deployed in central Kampala after
police fired tear gas and live rounds to stop rioters attacking Asian
businesses and a Hindu temple, angered by moves to expand an Indian-
owned company's sugar plantations.

-snip-

The controversy began last year when President Yoweri Museveni
ordered a study into whether to axe 7,000 hectares (17,000 acres) or
nearly a third of Mabira.

-snip-

The government's proposal angered some parliamentarians and
residents. They said the environmental costs of slashing the forest
would far exceed the economic benefits of the plantation.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L12357599.htm