Uganda Criticizes Assaults on Indians

The death of Devang Rawal, who was killed by a mob during a protest over an Indian firm’s plans to slash about a third of Mabira Forest Reserve, have frightened the Indians in the Ugandan capital to the extent that they preferred to stay indoors despite President Yoweri Museveni assuring them of their safety.

The situation has persuaded the Indian government to raise an issue of Indians’ safety with the Ugandan Government.

Uganada Funeral Services is preparing the body to be flown to the deceased hometown, Ahmedabad later Saturday, said Rajni Taylor, the leader of the Indian Association in Uganda.

Rawal was employed as a sales representative at Translink (U) Ltd, a company importing products of Jhonson & Johnson and Nestle products.

The President has condemned the assaults on Indians and assures to take their security as the Uganda’s prime responsibility.

Many Indians kept their shops closed in Kampala and decided not to send their children to school.

Indian traders are a critical part of Uganadan economy and such riots can put them off. Considering the same, the police swung into action and has arrested the culprits responsible for the protest and looting the Indian shops in the city.

The protest was held against the plans of the Sugar Corporation of Uganada Limited (SCOUL), to expand its sugar estates by cutting the Mabira rain forest – one of the last remaining patches of natural forest.

Photo: Bangalore Church street trees 3 by T. R. Shankar Raman, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.