Families are mourning the five people shot dead on Monday when police attempted to stop a demonstration against the alleged grabbing of 10,000 acres of land by a senior government official.

The incident has brought to the fore issues of land ownership that have dogged the area for decades.

The fertile valley, characterised by forested hills, river networks and lush vegetation, receives ample rainfall throughout the year, allowing for plentiful production of maize, sugarcane and other crops.