12 The <strong>Gateway</strong> <strong>Chronicle</strong> 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
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