Witnesses say mob attacked Hindu temple and stoned two victims during protest in downtown Kampala

Police in Uganda's capital say at least two people of Asian origin have been killed during a protest against plans to clear part of a national forest for sugarcane growing.

Witnesses say a mob attacked a Hindu temple and stoned the two victims during the protest in downtown Kampala Thursday. Police say they fired tear gas and live ammunition to disperse the crowd.

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The protesters object to a government plan to clear about 7,000 hectares of the Mabira Forest Reserve. The company that would use the land, the Mehta Group, is owned by Ugandans of Indian descent.

The Mabira National Forest was established in 1932. Environmentalists say the plan to develop the forest area would threaten several plant and animal species.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.