Expulsion of Indians from Uganda by Idi Amin was a mistake: Museveni

Contact Counsellor

Last Updated23/01/2024

Nearly 52 years after the Ugandan dictator expelled the Indian community of his country, the President of Uganda called that move a “mistake”

President comment which came at the 19th NAM summit held in capital Kampala was a rare expression of regret about an event
- That has long been considered one of the traumatic incidents that struck the Indian diaspora in the 20th century.
The NAM countries also sometimes make mistakes like here in Uganda.
In August 1972, Idi Amin ordered the expulsion of Indians and other south Asians who were an integral part of Ugandan life till that point.
At the end, around 80,000 Indians and thousands of Pakistanis and Bangladesh citizens were expelled from Uganda prompting them to seek refuge in other countries
- Including the U.K., Canada, Kenya and India.
- Many of those expelled Indians went on to carve a future for themselves in new locations.

India established its diplomatic presence in 1965, even though the countries relationship dates back to the era.
Traders ferried goods in dhows across the Indian Ocean which eventually led to a number of Indians to settle in East Africa, and many made Uganda their home.
India’s freedom struggle inspired early Ugandan activists to fight colonialism and the country achieved freedom in 1962.
In the 1970s under the dictatorship of Idi Amin, nearly 60000 Indians and PIOs were expelled from Uganda.
However, this policy was reversed in the 80s and currently, there are over 30000 Indians/PIOs in the country.