"Giving Uganda back to ethnic Ugandans." The Expulsion of Ugandan Asians.

Uganda became a protectorate of the British Empire in 1894 and was finally granted independence in 1962. In 1896, The British administration sent over 40.000 citizens of India as labourers to build a railway. Later, more Asians were brought to Uganda to "serve as a buffer between Europeans and Africans in the middle rungs of commerce and administration" (via), many of them owned shops. In fact, Asian Ugandas owned 90% of the country's businesses and accounted for 90% of the country's tax revenues. They made up only 1% of Uganda's population but earned 1/5 of the nation's income. This, the British investing in the education of Asians over the education of Ugandans, and the segregation of schooling and healthcare later led to tensions. 

In 1971, General Idi Amin staged a coup and declared himself President of Uganda. In his eight-year regime of terror there were mass executions of tribes that had been loyal to Obote, the elected president who had been forced into exile. Amin also terrorised the general public making clear that everybody opposing his regime would be eliminated. It is estimated that about 300.000 civilians were massacred (via).

Needing a new enemy to distract from his problems and to make himself popular, Amin decided to capitalise on the resentement of Ugandan Asians, called them "bloodsuckers" and accused them of destroying the country's economy, of engaging in unethical business practices, corruption, ethnic elitism and "milking Uganda's money". In 1972, Amin announced the mass expulsion of Asian Ugandans over a period not to exceed three months. In other words, Amin was the man who would "give Uganda back to ethnic Ugandans". In 1972, between 50.000 and 70.000 Asians were forced to leave the country, those who stayed would be sent to concentration camps, Amin threatened (via and via). Asians were given 90 days time to pack their lives and leave, many moved to the United Kingdom. In the years to follow, the economy of Uganda slumped (via). 

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photograph (1973, family living in Leicester after being expelled from Uganda) via