Indians Thrive In UGANDA 50 Years After Idi Amin Ethnic Persecution, Expulsion

August 2022
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Uganda President Idi Amin at UN (United Nations, New York) Oct. 01, 1975 (Wikipedia Commons)

By Atwine Allen – DIPLOMATIC TIMES CORRESPONDENT

KAMPALA, UGANDA – This is the 50th anniversary of the expulsion of Indians from Uganda in 1972 by President Idi Amin. On August 04, 1972, General Amin ordered the banishment of the Ugandan Asian minority, giving them 90 days to get out of the country. Uganda’s 80,000 Asians were mostly from the Indian subcontinent and born in the country, their ancestors having come to Uganda in search of prosperity when India was still a British colony. The Ugandan leader called the Indians “bloodsuckers” and accused them of milking the economy of its wealth. Some 50,000 Indians were forced to leave Uganda, with the government of General Amin confiscating their businesses and property. More than 5,000 businesses, ranches, farms and agricultural estates were confiscated. Although a small minority at the time of General Amin’s expulsion, Indians played a significant role in Ugandan business and finance, and their expulsion nearly destroyed the economy. However, many Indians expelled were determined to return to Uganda and thousands eventually came back and it was business as usual as they have thrived economically. Today, Asians are the backbone of the Ugandan economy. Asians make up to 1% out of the total 48 million population of Uganda . They dominate the Ugandan economy, despite being a minority, and have huge control over the citizens. The Indians and Asian investors contribute up to 75 percent to the country’s tax revenue , due to their engagement in the country’s critical sectors. They are everywhere including owning banking , insurance, hospitality, real estates, education broadcasting, agriculture, consumer goods and manufacturing to mention but a few. If you visit a typical upscale hotel, or restaurant in capital city Kampala, there is an overwhelming chance the business is owned by an Asian from the Indian subcontinent.

G.B. ENGLAND. Heathrow Airport. asians expelled from Uganda arrived, often penniless, at Heathrow Airport after being robbed by General Amin’s soldiers and officials. 1972. (Credit: thebritishlibraryinstallation.com / © David Hurn/Magnum Photos)

Ugandan Indians have regained their prominent role in the country’s economy, following their mass expulsion Five decades ago.

Sudhir Ruparelia, Ugandan business magnate and investor of Indian origin (Credit: Own work)

Sudhir Rupaleria, worth an estimated $800 million, was one of those rich Indians that the former President Amin sent packing. He returned to the country after the incumbent President Yoweri Museveni lifted the ban on foreigners. He owns Crane bank in Uganda , It was taken from him by the bank of Uganda but later he won the case and the assets were later returned to him. He returned to Uganda from the United Kingdom and established his Rupaleria Group. That establishment is dominating seven different sectors of the entire economy, including in banking, insurance, hospitality,, real estate, education, broadcasting and agriculture. His establishment employs more than 8,000 Ugandans.

(Diplomatic Times’ East Africa correspondent Atwine Allen gathered that the Indians are hard working ‘go-getters’ when it comes to business in her feature article). Indians are aggressively enterprising when it comes to business opportunities in Uganda. They help Ugandans by employing them, enabling them to put food on the table. Ugandans are really thankful for that.

They always have varieties of goods Ugandans need. When you enter a shop owned by an Indian you are offered the choice to choose between a duplicate or original item you are looking for at different prices. According to a source who would not want her name in print, “In some pharmacies owned by Indians, the prices of drugs are always low and affordable. This is because most of the pharmaceutical companies in Uganda are owned by Indians”.

DIPLOMATIC TIMES VIDEO – Indians and Asians in Uganda are hard working ‘go-getters’ when it comes to business

“Once we see an opportunity, we go for it”: Indian Businessman in KAMPALA

DIPLOMATIC TIMES VIDEO – Indians and Asians in Uganda are hard working ‘go-getters’ when it comes to business

Atwine Allen Interview with Kampala businessman Mr. Raj who works in construction materials business:

DIPLOMATIC TIMES: How long have you been in Uganda?

Mr. Raj: I have been in Uganda for over 19 years. I have been in the construction materials business about 13 years.

DIPLOMATIC TIMES: We know here in Uganda, Indians have dominated business all over the country. Where ever you go, you find Indians. They are really successful. How have they done this?

Mr. Raj: Indians respect work. We respect our customers. We are hard working people. When we see a (business) chance, we go for it. Once we see an opportunity, we go for it.

DIPLOMATIC TIMES: So what advice do you give for our Ugandan people in creating business and being successful

Mr. Raj: Only one advice I can give them is to work hard. It’s never too easy. It’s never too hard. You need to go for it. Work hard for it. Never give up.

From left, Diplomatic Times East Africa correspondent Atwine Allen with business owner Mr. Raj. who deals in construction materials in Kampala, Uganda.

“We Respect Our Customers” – Indian Businessman in KAMPALA, Uganda

DIPLOMATIC TIMES VIDEO – Indians and Asians in Uganda are hard working ‘go-getters’ when it comes to business

Mr. Patel, an Indian businessman in Kampala who supplies building materials, said Indians have succeeded in every business the venture in because “they know how to handle their customers with respect, work hard, and are go-getters.”

In Uganda today, most of the Indian investors are given permits to operate businesses offering opportunities for them to compete with native Ugandans. They are mostly treated with respect by the authorities. This is what the former Military President Idi Amin could not tolerate.

Racial Tensions Between Uganda Blacks and Indians Remain Today

Efforts have been made in recent times to reduce the influence of the Indians especially by the Ugandan citizens and government. There have been some “xenophobic” attempts over the years to curtail the Ugandan Asians’ economic dominance. Some Ugandan members of Parliament have accused Indians of having a history of discriminatory behavior toward black Africans and refusing to assimilate. Some say black Ugandans , no matter however qualified, are often relegated to the lower paying jobs with poor working conditions in many Indian businesses. Racial tensions remain amid the differences in culture and traditions. The Indians feel they are often unfairly stereotyped for their business success in Uganda. And some Ugandans note that interracial marriages between Africans and Indians in the country don’t last very long due to the cultural differences. However, Indians appear determined and resilient given the history of adversity against them in Uganda. After all, they have been in Uganda more than a Century. And some superstitious Ugandan blacks believe that the Indians, since they have many gods in their culture, could be getting some “divine” blessings to succeed in their business. On the whole, Ugandans are grateful for everything Indians have done to help prosper the nation. Ugandan President Museveni has often praised Indian contribution to the local economy, saying since they are the ones who are creating wealth it is natural they should also be involved in policy decisions. When Museveni took power in 1986, he encouraged Indians to return to Uganda, and some even repossessed the businesses they originally owned.

Since Indians they pay 75% of the taxes in Uganda, it is easy to see how they have gained control of major parts of country’s economy, including hotels, banking, manufacturing and retail. Indians also employ more than 1 million “indigenous” people.

Former British Prime Minister David Cameron said in 2012 that Indians from Uganda are “one of the most successful groups of immigrants anywhere in the history of the world”.

Tagged with: Britain, Diaspora, Idi Amin, India, Indians, Racism, Uganda

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