The Expulsion of the South Asian Community in Uganda
by Olivia Musselwhite
On October 9, 1962, Uganda celebrated its independence. Political independence was achieved through the liberation of Africa from the British, but economic independence was believed to be withheld by the Asian community who controlled a significant percentage (Cosemans, 2018). According to East African leaders, the Asian community in Africa inhibited real, African independence (Cosemans, 2018). Tensions between African and Asian Ugandans were further stressed when Milton Obote became president in 1966, pursuing the 鈥淎fricanization鈥� of Uganda, which restricted Asian involvement in the economy (鈥淏ackground: Idi Amin鈥檚 Uganda, 1972鈥�). Between 1969 and 1971, due to Obote鈥檚 anti-Asian measures, more than 24,000 Asians left the country (Muhammedi, 2017).
In January 1971, General Idi Amin led a military coup against the Obote government and took power (鈥淏ackground: Idi Amin鈥檚 Uganda, 1972鈥�). Amin argued that Africa鈥檚 weakness was its belief that the imperialists needed to continue to teach Africa how to run its affairs (Muhammedi, 2018).聽 On August 4th, 1972, President Amin announced that those who were non-citizens in Uganda would be forced to leave the country, as he declared that British passport holders were the reason for social, political, and economic issues in Uganda (Muhammedi, 2017). The expulsion decree became effective as of August 9th, 1972 with the deadline for the departure of all Ugandan Asians being midnight on November 8th, 1972 (Muhammedi, 2017). Amin鈥檚 original announcement excluded Ugandan Asians who had Ugandan passports but this was reversed on August 21st, leading to all Asians being expelled with little exemption (Muhammedi, 2017).
In order to expel the Asians for Amin鈥檚 political agenda, the charge against the Asian community was economic sabotage through profiteering, smuggling, hoarding, and currency offences (鈥淯ganda planning to kick out 80,000 Asians鈥�, 1972). The same day that the decree became effective, newspapers flooded with headlines about Amin鈥檚 announcement that God had directed him to expel the Asian community (鈥淯gandan Leader Heard Call鈥�, 1972).
According to Western newspaper articles released after the announcement, Amin鈥檚 exodus was seen as a desperate attempt to hold Uganda together under his power. (鈥淭he British of Uganda鈥�, 1972) The Globe and Mail described the announcement as an attempt to inflame old African prejudices to absorb popular dissatisfaction with Amin鈥檚 government聽 (鈥淩acism in Uganda鈥�, 1972). The Asian community was not the first to be expelled under Amin鈥檚 government, as on March 30, 1972, he expelled the Israeli community from Uganda, alleging that the Israeli government was planning against him (Muhammedi, 2017).
There is a long history of South Asian people in Uganda, and by the time the expulsion was announced there had already been several generations of South Asian families who viewed Uganda as their home (Musselwhite, 2022). 杏吧原创鈥檚 oral history interviews reveal that the expulsion was sudden and the Ugandan Asian community did not think that the announcement was serious at first, believing that it was a joke. Nizar Fakirani and his family were some of the last to leave before the expulsion deadline. Fakirani explains, 鈥淲hen Idi Amin declared that the Asians had 90 days to leave the country, that came as a shock, as a complete shock. There were Asians there for more than three-four generations鈥� we never had in our minds any thought of leaving the country.鈥�
In the beginning, the Ugandan Asian community did not pay much attention to the expulsion announcement but panic ensued when it was announced that no one would be exempted from the expulsion. Tom and Joan Francis both grew up in Uganda and were rendered stateless by President Amin鈥檚 decree. Tom explained their initial reaction to the news, 鈥淲e thought, ah, it鈥檚 a joke. And Amin was known to be a bit over the top and making rash statements and so on, so we kind of dismissed it. The next day he repeated it and then we realized that he was serious and then he gave us three months to leave the country.鈥�
Some of the Ugandan Asian community held on to the hope that President Amin would rethink the expulsion longer than others. Jitu Tanna recalls that her family was wishful that Amin would change his mind,
鈥淎fter about the middle of the time, maybe a month and a half before the deadline we realized you know that this is serious and we started making plans. We started selling stuff that were in the shops, furniture, everything, started putting money in the bank and then yeah, when the day came鈥� we left just a day before the deadline. That鈥檚 how close it was, because I think my father was always thinking that no, no, this can鈥檛 be happening, I think he will change his mind. I think it was just鈥� wishful thinking.鈥�
Suddenly, Uganda was no longer a safe place to stay for the South Asian community. Ugandan Asian families lined up in front of immigration offices for long hours to receive the documentation that they required to stay in Uganda but were often denied, their futures becoming suddenly uncertain. Britain requested assistance from other governments in relocating the Ugandan Asian refugees, with Canada being the first to act followed by India, Pakistan, Kenya, Malawi, United Kingdom and the United States (鈥淏ackground: Idi Amin鈥檚 Uganda, 1972鈥�). Due to Amin鈥檚 political agenda, the Ugandan Asian community saw an uncertain future, leaving Uganda, which had been home for many generations.
References
Background: Idi Amin鈥檚 Uganda, 1972. The Uganda Collection, Archives and Special Collections, 杏吧原创 University. /uganda-collection/archival-material/background-idi-amin-uganda-1972/.
Cosemans, Sara. (2018). The politics of dispersal: Turning Ugandan colonial subjects into postcolonial refugees (1967鈥�76). Migration studies 6(1), 99鈥�119.聽 .
Muhammedi, Shezan (2017). 鈥楪ifts From Amin’: The resettlement, integration, and identities of Ugandan Asian refugees in Canada. Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 4438. .
Racism in Uganda. (August 9, 1972). The Globe and Mail, courtesy of the Hempel Collection, Archives and Special Collections 杏吧原创 University. /uganda-collection/archival-material/the-hempel-collection-looking-in-from-the-outside/.
The British of Uganda. (August 7, 1972). The London Times, courtesy of the Hempel Collection, Archives and Special Collections 杏吧原创 University. /uganda-collection/archival-material/the-hempel-collection-looking-in-from-the-outside/.
Ugandan leader heard call: 鈥楪od directed me to expel Asians鈥� (August 9, 1972). Ottawa Citizen, courtesy of the Hempel Collection, Archives and Special Collections 杏吧原创 University. /uganda-collection/archival-material/the-hempel-collection-looking-in-from-the-outside/.
Uganda planning to kick out 80,000 Asians (August 8, 1972). Ottawa Citizen, courtesy of the Hempel Collection, Archives and Special Collections 杏吧原创 University. /uganda-collection/archival-material/the-hempel-collection-looking-in-from-the-outside/.