Three charged in Uganda over killing during riots

Apr 17, 2007, 16:23 GMT

Kampala - Three men were on Tuesday charged with murder following unrest in the Ugandan capital Kampala last week when an environmental demonstration degenerated into anti-Asian riots resulting in the deaths of one Indian and two Africans.

Some 24 others, including two legislators, meanwhile face charges of participating in an unlawful assembly.

The three, all residents of Kampala, were charged with the murder of 25-year-old Devang Rawal during an April 12 demonstration against a government move to turn part of a major forest reserve into an extension of an Asian-owned sugar plantation. The march turned racist with some participants stoning and looting Asian properties.

All three denied the charges.

'I have no jurisdiction to give them bail but they should apply for bail in the High Court,' Kampala magistrate Margaret Tiburya told the packed court in downtown Kampala.

A total of 32 people were arrested following the demonstration but five had been released by the time the accused were taken to court early Tuesday evening.

Two opposition members of parliament - Beatrice Anywar and Hussein Kyanjo - and the head of a powerful environment lobby group Frank Muramuzi were among the 24 people charged with another lesser charge of unlawful assembling, carrying a one-year jail term upon conviction.

'On April 12 they unlawfully assembled and conducted themselves in a manner that led to terror,' the magistrate said. The accused denied the charges and were granted bail.

Calm was again restored in Kampala Tuesday evening following day- long clashes between riot police and opposition supporters.

Police and security forces had used tear gas to break up an opposition demonstration against the detention of the legislators.

Uganda has had a troubled relationship with its Asian community since former military dictator Idi Amin used them as a scapegoat for his country's woes and banished them in the 1970s. Many returned in the early 1990s.

East Africa has a sizable Indian community, which was brought to the region by British colonialists in the late 19th century and remained, becoming a driving force behind the East African economy.

The Asians who had closed their premises and sought police protection during the riot, reopened their businesses over the weekend, but by Tuesday had shut down again.