Kampala — Three BAT workers in Hoima district were yesterday evening shot dead by the Police at Kibati Purchasing Centre during a sit-down strike.

The dead were Denis Bazaare, 50, Bernard Byabasaija and another unidentified woman whose body was still in the BAT premises by press time. Several other workers were shot and injured critically.

The injured were rushed to Hoima Hospital. According to a BAT worker, Ronald Aheebwa, the strike came after the company failed to pay over 600 workers for two months.

Aheebwa said at Kibati trading centre, about 200 metres from the scene of the shooting, where the two bodies lay. "We are demanding over sh140m from the company and we decided to have a peaceful sit-down strike. But the management reported to the Police.

When the Police came, they shot live bullets at us, killing three of our colleagues," said Aheebwa.

Teargas engulfed the area which is located about a kilometre from Hoima town. Residents fled for dear life, while others closed their shops in the usually busy centre.

The Hoima Police Station head, Romeo Ojara, said: "Nobody has been killed." However, New Vision saw the bodies in pools of blood. Byabasaija's body had gunshot wounds in the head and chest; while that of Bazaare had many bullet wounds in the head. Bazaare was a prominent businessman in the area.

About half an hour later, the Hoima district Police commander, Augustine Kasangaki, arrived at the scene and transported the bodies to Hoima mortuary under tight security.

All top officials of BAT in Hoima fled the scene in fear of angry residents. Company officials would not answer their phones. Kasangaki said: "Whoever shot the workers will be charged with murder. We regret the incident; our officers behaved unprofessionally."