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Uganda - Workers burn sugarcane plantations
EMPLOYEES of the Sugar Corporation of Uganda (SCOUL) yesterday burnt over 100 acres of sugarcane. The workers were protesting the meagre sh60,000 basic salary.
Armed with catapaults, sticks and pangas, the over 100 rowdy workers from Ntenga camp in Lugazi, burnt the plantation as Special Police Constables (SPCs) and anti-riot Police helplessly looked on.
A similar melee took place at Musambya and Bamuyanga camps.
The Police chief, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura, said: “I have been to the other camps but Ntenga is more violent.”
Kayihura said although the rioters were provoking the Police, it did not fire at them.
“I asked the fire fighting team to come and help,” adding that the Police would ‘sectorise’ its deployment to restore normalcy.
He said he had talked to Joram Pajobo, the workers MP, to sort out the issue with SCOUL.
“The Police can not do much. The workers’ contracts are with SCOUL.”
By press time, officials of the plantation workers’ union were meeting the employees.
Attempts to get a comment from the corporation’s chief executive were futile. His phone was also off.