Revealed: Why Idi Amin expelled Asians from Uganda.

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Revealed: Why Idi Amin expelled Asians from Uganda

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Editorial Team

The Uganda Asian exodus begine in 1972 after being expelled by Idi Amin.

We once again go deep into Dr Arnold Spero Bisase’s book Guardian Angel Volume One: The Beginning to find out what actually made former Ugandan dictator Idi Amin to expel Asian British passport holders from Uganda.

The story, if true, goes like this, and I knew the narrator and his family well as they were my friends and patients at my Practice in Kampala. He told me that Idi Amin was once invited to an Asian function in 1972. He and many dignitaries, some local and some international, attended this rather lavish occasion; our Asian friends can really lay it on when they have someone eminent to impress, like The President of Uganda. The many well to do businessmen from their community paid their respects, and as per custom their families followed in their wake. Towards the end of the procession came the family of a very prosperous businessman Mr Sherali Bandari Jaffer, the owner of The Fairway Hotel by the Kitante Road, Kampala. He was now the one narrating this story to me. Among the ladies following him was his beautiful youngest daughter. One look at her and Idi Amin instantly fancied her; his gaze fixed on her until she sat down amongst the ladies enclosure. At the conclusion of the event, Idi Amin sent his bodyguard to tell Mr Jaffer that the President wanted his daughter and was therefore proposing for her hand in marriage. At that stage Amin had already four wives, so it would have necessitated getting rid of (sack) one of them in accordance with Muslim tradition.

There was pandemonium. Sherali Bandari Jaffer was scared witless. He and the entire family scurried away to get home. But by the next morning Idi Amin had tracked down the home of Mr Jaffer and sent him his driver carrying the official confirmation of the “request”. Mr Jaffer told the President’s driver that he had to consult other members of his family before giving his response but promised to do so soon. According to my friend Jaffer, this was the longest day of his life. That night, under the cover of darkness, he arranged with one of their relative to smuggle the entire family out of the country, bribing all their way to Nairobi. Mr Jaffer, rather like the rest of us, thought that this “request” would remain harmless and dissipate itself out. Besides, he still had his investments in the country. So he stayed behind to take care of their businesses. The family had already confirmed their safe arrival on the ‘phone’. Like a beast on heat, Idi Amin could not wait to get his chance and sent for the answer. Mr Jaffer gave the excuse of this being a family and community decision not to accept and that the girls were already away (in Nairobi of course).

Amin was so incensed by this snub that he vowed to punish, and he quoted “these people who showed flagrant discrimination against him (me)” The next day All Non-Citizen Asians were given 90 days to get out of Uganda. But the reason Idi Amin gave now was that: ‘Because God spoke to him (me)in the night and told him (me) that they had to leave as they were responsible for exploiting the indigenous citizens of the country’!! Take that! And it is exactly as I got it from Mr Jaffer. And so began the Exodus of unimaginable proportions and suffering for the victims of this man’s obsession for the skirt.

http://www.thelondoneveningpos...-asians-from-uganda/

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DjangoAdmin

Driven by fear and vengeance, Idi Amin ordered the Asian community to leave Uganda

On August 7, 1972, General Idi Amin, then military ruler of Uganda ordered the expulsion of Asians. While some say it was a dream Amin had in which God told him to order the expulsion, others also say that it was a master plan to plot vengeance against the British government for refusing to provide him with arms to invade Tanzania.

Indophobia

Amin seized power in a military coup in 1971. He accused the Indian and Pakistani communities of being “bloodsuckers” and milking the economy of its wealth. He gave them 90 days to leave the country. One of the reasons for the expulsion was the resentment of the black majority over the success of the Asians.

Most of them had been citizens of Uganda and the backbone of the country’s economy for almost two generations. They had significant influence over the economy. In fact, even though they constituted only one per cent of the population, they made up a fifth of the national income. They were also in charge for serving the elite healthcare and schooling services. The tariff system too had historically been oriented towards the economic interests of South Asian traders.

The Ugandan government claimed that the Indians were hoarding wealth and goods, sabotaging the Ugandan economy. Most Asians in Uganda were British Passport Holders and were expected to move to the UK.

Expulsion

General Amin summoned the British High Commissioner in Kampala to ask him to arrange for the removal of the Indians. The expulsion order took Britain by surpriseThe 1968 Committee on “Africanisation in Commerce and Industry” in Uganda made far-reaching Indophobic (anti-India sentiment) proposals. Work permits and trade licenses were introduced in 1969 to restrict the role of Indians in economic and professional activities. Of the 90,000, expelled around 50,000 went to U.K. and some to Canada. Few of them returned to India. However, they all arrived with no money as they were not compensated for their businesses. Even the wealthy citizens, who had a rather large stake in Uganda’s economy, had all of their assets confiscated, bank accounts closed and jewellery stolen. These companies were reallocated among government bodies and individuals.

Following the expulsion of Indians, India severed all diplomatic relations with Uganda. The Indian government warned Uganda of dire consequences, but took no action when Amin’s government ignored the ultimatum.

http://www.thehindu.com/featur...a/article7507451.ece

5/19/1710:01 PM

TolaSenior Member

We were in Uganda a few years ago where we drilled over 50 fresh water wells. Some Indians returned to Uganda and many are business people. The Indians in Kampala will only deal with other Indians in private, regarding changing foreign currency. Of others in our group, they will only deal with the East Indians.

We visited a wild animal resort near Lake Albert, where Idi Amin built a large hotel with an aircraft runway. After Amin left, the building was demolished by locals and only the concrete foundation remains.

In Southern Uganda at the Source of the Nile river, is a bust of Ghandi, where some of his cremation ashes was placed. The bust was not vandalized.

The blacks still don't like Indians in Uganda and I was called many names in Kampala, so please tell your Indian sistas and broddas in Guyana, not to leave Granga-land fa Uganda, because dem rass might be grass, hanging up-side-down from a tree, with Cobra guarding dem.

5/19/1710:56 PM

Billy Ram BalgobinBilly

Tola posted:
We were in Uganda a few years ago where we drilled over 50 fresh water wells. Some Indians returned to Uganda and many are business people. The Indians in Kampala will only deal with other Indians in private, regarding changing foreign currency. Of others in our group, they will only deal with the East Indians.
We visited a wild animal resort near Lake Albert, where Idi Amin built a large hotel with an aircraft runway. After Amin left, the building was demolished by locals and only the concrete foundation remains.
In Southern Uganda at the Source of the Nile river, is a bust of Ghandi, where some of his cremation ashes was placed. The bust was not vandalized.
The blacks still don't like Indians in Uganda and I was called many names in Kampala, so please tell your Indian sistas and broddas in Guyana, not to leave Granga-land fa Uganda, because dem rass might be grass, hanging up-side-down from a tree, with Cobra guarding dem.

Africans will that to their own in situations.

5/19/1711:10 PM

TolaSenior Member

Not to their own in situations only Billy, but also in every opportunity.

The light skin blacks constantly take advantage of the dark skin blacks in the slum areas we visited.

This reminds me of scene from the movie " The Harder they come' wid Jimmy Cliff.

Jimmy was begging the white guy in the convertible car to give him break by listening to his song, but the white guy just shoo him away, showing his power. One of the things that cause Jimmy to taken up guns and die at the end of the movie.

Blacks take advantage of other blacks, just like some Indian also do.

5/19/1711:25 PM

PrashadSenior Member

Indira Gandhi was Prime Minister of India then. Ishmaeli muslims were in the fore front in the breaking up of India with both Jinah and the Aga Khan promoting partition of India. It is mostly Ishmaeli muslims that were expelled by Amin. Indira must have had a good laugh.

5/20/171:35 AM

cainTired old hippie

Prashad posted:
Indira Gandhi was Prime Minister of India then. Ishmaelis were in the fore front in breaking up of India with both Jinah and the Aga Khan promoting partition of India. It is mostly Ishmaeli muslims that were expelled by Amin. Indira must. have had a good laugh.

Hehehe..yugli crawled all the way back for 2013 news, you really don't know what the fool was implying? Ow banna, you just frigged the man up..I luv it.

5/20/171:43 AM

DjangoAdmin

"The Indian government warned Uganda of dire consequences, but took no action when Amin’s government ignored the ultimatum."

Wondering if that fool understand the above,he tries to bolster his racist argument by bringing forth the Uganda Asian expulsion crisis and wants to apply it to Guyana.

5/20/178:42 AM

Former Member

Django posted:
"The Indian government warned Uganda of dire consequences, but took no action when Amin’s government ignored the ultimatum."
Wondering if that fool understand the above,he tries to bolster his racist argument by bringing forth the Uganda Asian expulsion crisis and wants to apply it to Guyana.

There were dire consequences on Uganda via the Commonwealth. India could not act directly as these people were British passport holders, not Indian.

My father was in Nigeria in 1974 and saw the animosity between some locals and the Indian community there. The Indians actually did not want to have anything to do with Blacks, except business dealings. The Indians never attended any social events, not even their weddings, etc. There was a lot of negative sentiments which he felt. It changed for him when they saw he was different and was interested in their events. And they became very accommodating.

On my visit to Kenya many years later, I saw the same, but not as extreme. Many older Indians did have an attitude, but I'm not sure they knew what their kids were doing in Carnivore Friday/Saturday nights. Let's say, it was a bit of a melting pot!

5/20/176:31 PM