RIOTING IN UGANDA

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29108, 21 January 1960, Page 13

RIOTING IN UGANDA

Tax Protests By Africans

KAMPALA (Uganda), Jan. 19. The Acting-Governor of Uganda (Sir Charles Hartwell) today declared the Bukedi district a “disturbed area,” after rioting broke out in protests against taxes imposed by the local African Government. This empowered police in the district to commandeer vehicles, land and buildings, seize arms, ban the carrying of spears and other weapons, impose curfews and regulate movemen there.

The rioting continued in spite of pamphlets, dropped from the air by the British Administration, telling the Africans they need not pay the taxes until an inquiry is completed. Last night, police in Bukedi opened fire to disperse a mob attacking a local chief's house. Angry mobs also surrounded the local African Government headquarters and burned the property of- African chiefs and councillors. No injuries were reported. A statement by the British Administration said that the disorders were against tribal authorities and not racial or antiBritish. “I am satisfied that the Native Government made tax assessments unfairly and arbitrarily in some cases,” said the District Commissioner (Mr R. F. Roper). Two companies of the King’s African Rifles have been drafted to keep order in the Protectorate Most of the rioting was in the Bukedi district, with minor incidents also reported in the neighbouring Busoga area