Why former Uganda dictator Idi Amin expelled thousands of Ugandan Asians - BBC News

It is 50 years since Uganda's former-dictator Idi Amin expelled thousands of members of the Asian community from the country, after accusing them of disloyalty.
They were given just three months to leave, or face being placed in concentration camps.
About 27,000 people left their homes for the UK, many of them were British passport holders.
Those settling in Leicester, England, have become part of the fabric of the city.
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[@jacqueslee2592]

Because the British placed them in Uganda as a pawn to create conflict with the Ugandas. British Empire relied on usually creating a loyal minority, giving them economic and political power so that the natives can become minoritized and powerless in an ethnic and racial hierarchy. It was how the British Empire maintained its power by playing ethnic, tribal, and racial chess and hence why the Western Imperial nations relied on ethnic sectarianism to maintain power during decolonization wars in the Cold War.

[@nze256]

Unfortunately as Ugandans that was Abad lesson to learn, now the current dictator who is in power 36yrs is expelling us the native Ugandans, but seems we aren't welcome anywhere.

[@inamghafoor]

I use to work with a guy who came to the west midlands from Uganda, such a nice guy! but I never asked him why he was thrown out, every day is a school day!

[@tim01263]

My dad was a kid in Leicester and told me of the first time he saw an man wearing a turban. Shocked, he remembered turning to his father and asking if the man was a pirate, like in his children's books. My grandfather, a second world war serviceman, told him to treat the new arrivals with respect, and that he had served with many Indians in the war, that they were the same people as him and my father and should be welcomed.

[@BarberJ95]

Forrest Whittaker def deserved that Oscar!

[@x2931]

The expulsion of Indians from Uganda by Idi Amin had a severe impact on the country's economy, with a decline in GDP by over 40% in the years following the expulsion. The loss of skilled workers and entrepreneurs led to a decline in production and economic output, and foreign investment also decreased due to political instability and uncertainty. The economic shock caused by their departure had a long-lasting impact on Uganda's economy.

[@KingKong187911]

Pritti Petal was one of these REFUGEES!!!!!! Please never let her forget that 🤡😂😉

[@dickensmccain3129]

Africa for Africans. India for Indians

[@ayeshaali8131]

That is not absolutely true, Amin asked the asian community, many holding both uk and Ugandan citizenship living in Uganda to keep their money and wealth in Uganda and not in uk and Swiss banks. The asian community exploited Uganda by making all their wealth using Ugandan resources and the money was banked in uk and Swiss banks fir themselves which didn't benefit the economy of Uganda. Amin gave an ultimatums to the asian community to become Ugandan and bring their money back to Uganda from uk and Swiss banks and help develop Uganda if they wanted to stay in Uganda and use Ugandan resources or leave Uganda for good within 3 weeks.

[@solip6101]

Black racism right there. No two ways about it. Yet ofcourse black people can't be racist we all know that ! 🙃

[@sallymoen6371]

The Mira Nair film "Mississippi Masala" includes the expulsion of an Indian family that settled in the U.S., with the father continually petitioning the Ugandan government to compensate them for the loss of their home and property. The Ugandans left behind were deeply affected as well. It was a devastating change to move away from their homes and I'm grateful BBC has posted this story about the people.

[@Ilovemrbomba]

Because he wanted Uganda to be self independently economically some Asian countries has become a real problem to Africa they can't leave it alone, but when african go to Asia its a problem 😔😪

[@louissmith1393]

Idi Amin gave love and devotion to Uganda. One of the greatest leaders in African history.

[@jaybee4577]

This should happen more in many African countries. I have seen a rise of migrant from failing states migrating to African countries. Especially Lebanese migrant escaping their collapsing country and flying into west African countries. There have been many incidents of Lebanese, Chinese and Indian restaurants banning Africans from entering their restaurants. These restaurants are inside Africa but Africans aren’t allowed to eat. Africans better wake the fuck up. Can an African migrate to India, China and Lebanon to open an African only restaurants?? We all know the answer to that. Before an African can even open a business in these countries, they might as well die.

[@nunya6023]

The elephant in the room is that South Asians have and had, a strongly racist culture which caused friction with the Ugandan natives. You cannot be a guest in someone's home and treat them poorly.

[@marcusmoonstein242]

Excellent video doing an in-depth discussion about why Idi Amin expelled Asians from Uganda - NOT.

[@nippypinto]

I’m curious to know where did they get the money or loans from to set up those business’? Who funded them, that they were so prosperous in such a short amount of time? Anyone have any input?

[@UnDark1]

So why were there so many Indians in Uganda?

[@aabbb5688]

By the way, it was only Indians in Uganda (not other South Asians).

[@I.____.....__...__]

By "Asians", you mean Indians. He's was right when he said they were "milking the economy of Uganda". Even today, millions of Indian expats around the world send billions of dollars back to India in remittances every year. He wanted to stop Ugandan money from bleeding out to another country. Also, he didn't want to let his country to turn into Mauritius, another African country which is now 60% Indian (or like Canada and the UK will be in a year or two).