Police in Amuru district have tightened security in Paliyech Parish after the outbreak of violence there.
On Saturday, a mob of Pailyech residents attempted to kill workers from Madhvani Group of Companies who were inspecting land in the area.
Gilbert Olanya, the Amuru Sub-County LC5 councilor, says the team from Madhvani is planning to buy 10,000 hectares of land in a village called Kololo to use as a sugarcane plantation. He says there is much ill will towards Madhvani because of perceptions that the conglomerate is trying to illegally acquire the land and so the company's workers obtained police escort for their visit to Pailyech.
It isn't clear what set off the violence on Saturday. The police escort intervened quickly to disperse the mob by shooting several rounds of gunfire into the air.
Jacinto Ovuru the Amuru District Police Commander says no one was hurt in the incident. He says no arrests have been made because the police are still investigating the instigators of the violence.
Edward Openy the Amuru Sub-County LC3 chairperson says he has no doubt who is to blame. He says the team from Madhvani was expected to address residents about their plans at a meeting at the sub-county headquarters, but they did not do so.
Openy says that while his council is open to Madhvani investing in Amuru, the company needs to talk to the land owners to agree on terms and conditions of the purchase of the property. He says this will prevent any future misunderstandings.
