Many Asians in Uganda flee to neighbouring Kenya

Kampala (Uganda), Apr 15: Many Asians have reportedly fled Uganda to Kenya through Busia on the Uganda-Kenya border post while scores sought refuge at the Central Police Station, fearing renewed racial attacks against them.

Asian businessmen in Kampala who had closed their businesses after Thursday's attacks, agreed to reopen their shops following assurance by the authorities. However, they were still skeptical about their safety.

Police stepped up security around properties owned by the Indians and their temples.

An Indian national Devang Rawal (24), was stoned to death by violent mobs on Thursday which attacked the properties owned by Asians. They were protesting against the bid by a local sugar company, SCOUL, which is part of the Indian-owned Mehta Group, for the Mabira Forest Reserve to expand its estate.

Rawal who tried to flee the mob on a motorcycle, was intercepted, pulled down and stoned to death.

''Rawal was riding a motorcycle when he was stoned at clocktower.

He died on his way to Mulago hospital,'' Kampala Police Spokesman Simeo Neubuqa said.

Officials from the Indian High Commission on Thursday visited Mulago Hospital mortuary where the body of the deceased was kept.

Rawal was working as a sales representative with Translink (U) Ltd.

A Swami Narayan Temple and a branch of the Bank of Baroda was damaged in the violent demonstrations. Many shops were attacked and cars burnt.

The attacks were reminiscent of the seventies when Asians were targeted under the then dictator Idi Amin. Most Indians fled the country at that time. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni said in a statement that ''guests of the country'' were ''singled out for demonisation.'' Inspector General of Police Kale Kayihura described the violence as ''very un-Ugandan, very un-African'' which was never seen before.

''Ugandans have exhibited a lot of sectarianism...We are back to the days of Idi Amin,'' he added.

The shops would open because the authorities had assured that assured that businesses would be safe, Rajni Tailor, chairman of the Indian community, said that most people could not get to work because operators refused to take them.

After the attacks, the Asian community had a meeting with security Minister Amama Mbabazi and the Inspector General of Police.

Prominent newspapers in their editorials denounced the violence describing it a ''regrettable bloodbath'' and called upon Ugandans to keep out racism.

''...It was wrong for people to be targeted simply because of their skin colour. Remember that many people of Asian descent never left this country in the worst of times. Hotelier Karim Hirji and industrialist Karmali Mukwano stayed here and have contributed a lot to the development of this land,'' The Monitor, published from Kampala, said an in editorial.

During the attacks properties belonging to Asians, including restaurants, shops and places of worship were targeted. A Motorcycle showroom owned by an Asian in Katwe was looted. Witnesses said the attacks would have spread but for a downpour which kept the violent protestors away from the streets after sometime.

Police transported terrified Asians from shops to their homes and also their children from schools. A police bus, escorted by Military Police, drove through the city rescuing Asians. The bus picked up Asians from markets and a temples in the violence-struck Ugandan capital.

The protests which were to be held as a peaceful demonstration, suddenly turned violent.

The protests were held against re-allocating part of Mabira Forest Reserve. They began after President Museveni ordered a study into the proposed giveaway of 7100 hectares 17,000 acres of Mabira which has been a nature reserve since 1932. It is one of Uganda's last remaining patches of natural forest.

Many Asians in various parts of the capital, were beaten up and their vehicles damaged.

SCOUL wants to expand its current holdings to 7,100 hectares of the forest reserve and plans to double its sugar production.

''If we put up a new sugar factory with all the facilities for additional sugar production, it will cost not less than between 150-200 million dollars," SCOUL Chief Executive S C Khanna was quoted as having said.

Uganda imports over 50,000 metric tonnes to close the gap in local demand. In 2005, total sugar imports costed 23 million US Dollars.

UNI