By Kenneth Wamatoyi
JINJA
Seventeen sugarcane workers from Kakira Jinja District have been arrested and detained following a violent strike by Madhavan sugarcane employees at the Karatine camp, which escalated into a riot, causing significant property damage on Friday, April 5.
Among the properties destroyed were water tanks, motorcycles, bicycles, savings boxes, tables, and crops.
The employees, armed with machetes, staged a violent strike that quickly turned into a riot, and they became a threat to anyone who came their way.
In response, the RPC Kiira region, SSP Charles Nsaba, deployed a solid crowd control team to Kakira, which was able to restore public order in Kakira Town Council, Jinja district, within minutes.
Kiira Regional Spokesperson, SP James Mubi, when contacted about the strike, stated that a peaceful conflict resolution process involving all stakeholders had commenced to fully address the workers’ concerns and grievances.
Attempts to get a comment from Kakira management were futile as all declined to comment on the incident.
The seventeen arrested suspects face charges of malicious damage, assault, and taking part in an unlawful demonstration. Additional suspects are expected to be arrested on similar charges.
