Gateway Chronicle 2021

12
The Gateway Chronicle
The Expulsion of Asians in
Uganda
Idi Amin Dada Oumee was a military officer in
Uganda who served as president from 1971 to 1979.
He was widely known as the Butcher of Uganda,
and completely obliterated the Ugandan economy
during his time in office. He overthrew the previous
president then married into power in 1971, before
initiating his famous expulsion of Asians from the
country only a year later. This came as a result of
Oboto, the former president, planning to get Idi
Amin arrested for using army funds to make himself
seem wealthy and become president.
Idi Amin launched a revolt against the civilians of
the country in January and then moved to secure
strategic positions near Kampala and Entebbe.
In early August 1972 Idi Amin stated he had had
a dream in which God had told him to banish all
Asian minorities from the country, so, a day later
he accused them of disloyalty and not integrating
and expelled them all. During a 90-day period,
about 80,000 Asians (mostly Guajaratis) left the
country, and if they did not leave for whatever
Idi Amin, president of Uganda
between 1971-1979, considered one
of the most brutal despots in world
history
reason, they would be publicly executed. In total,
there was about half a million people put to death.
In this large group of people, only a handful had
their applications for citizenship in other countries
accepted.
Of those 80,000 people, 27,000 went to the U.K,
6,000 went to Canada, 4,500 ended up in India,
2,500 went to Kenya and the remaining 40,000 went
to various other places around the world.
5,655 Asian firms were liquidated and destroyed
along with many ranches, farms, and agricultural
estates. People had to abandon all their major
possessions like cars, houses etc. and were not paid
any compensation; these were all transferred to Idi
Amin. Anyone that possessed a bank account with
any funds lost their money, as it was all transferred
to the Central Bank of Uganda and could not be
accessed.
At the time, my grandfather’s family were in Kampala,
running a shoemaking business. My grandfather
had nearly finished his university
education in India. On his return, he came
back to his family in Kampala to start
a job, but due to the riots and rumours
of Idi Amin taking over the country, his
family applied for a student visa for him
to enter the UK to studying at a college in
London.
My Grandad travelled from Uganda to
the UK, by ship and arrived at the Tilbury
Port. Unfortunately, soon after, my great
grandparents passed away, and my great
uncle had to shut down the family business.
My Grandad started his new life in
the UK.
Idi Amin’s policies affected many Asians,
including both of my grandads, and my
great grandmother.
Ethan Patel 2.3