The expulsion of Asian is a shameful chapter of Uganda’s past - Museveni

Museveni revealed that this week is of moment as it is a moment to reflect on the kinship between Britain and Uganda, especially as it is 50 years ago since Asians were expelled from Uganda and were forced emigrate to Britain.

“Some 50,000 Ugandan Indians who had known nowhere but Uganda as their homeland were made to abandon their country to begin lives anew elsewhere. Some fled to neighbouring Kenya, others to Canada. Most left for the UK. The businesses, possessions and lands they left behind were confiscated,” Museveni said.

“We must never forget this forced expulsion and shameful chapter of Uganda’s past: a warning from history to the world of what can transpire when there are no checks or democratic balances on the whims of those who hold positions of power,” he added.

Welcoming Asians back

Museveni, after seizing power in 1986, welcomed back the Asian community to Uganda and returned their properties under the aegis of the Ministry of Finance and the Departed Asians Property Custodian Board (DAPCB).

However, even before Museveni invited back the Asian community, in 1983 Government passed legislation for the provision for the return of properties confiscated by Government to their former owners.

By law, under the Expropriated Properties Act, all property that was left behind was vested in the Government of Uganda under the authority and management of DAPCB.

“We consider what we nearly lost, and what together our two countries can now gain,” Museveni said about the ties between Britain and Uganda.

Amin’s dream turns nightmare

Museveni recalled that it was believed that Amin reached a decision to expel Asians from Uganda courtesy of a dream he had had at night.

However, Museveni insists that Amin had not had such a dream but he was acting on impulse in response to pressure because he was a “fearful and paranoid man”.

The “pressure” Museveni alludes to was the Anti-Indian sentiment in Uganda, with Amin accusing the Asian minority of disloyalty, non-integration, and commercial malpractice.

Amin defended the expulsion by arguing that he was "giving Uganda back to ethnic Ugandans".

At the time, Asians owned 90% of the country's businesses and accounted for 90% of Ugandan tax revenues.