KAMPALA, Uganda (Diya TV) — Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has called the 1972 expulsion of the Indian community by former dictator Idi Amin a “mistake,” acknowledging their vital contributions to Uganda’s economy and culture. Museveni made the remarks during the 19th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit held in Kampala.
In his address, Museveni praised the entrepreneurial spirit of Indian-origin Ugandans, noting their roles in industries such as sugar, hotels, and steel production. “Idi Amin expelled all these people, yet they were one of the most active investment groups,” Museveni said, adding, “We brought them back and gave them back their properties.”
The expulsion, ordered by Amin in August 1972, forced around 80,000 Indians and South Asians, including Pakistanis and Bangladeshis, to flee Uganda. Many sought refuge in the U.K., Canada, Kenya, and India, where they rebuilt their lives. Museveni described Amin as a “poor, uneducated British soldier” whose policies devastated Uganda. The expulsion triggered an economic collapse, with the country’s GDP shrinking for four consecutive years under Amin’s rule.
Museveni highlighted the Indian community’s resilience, pointing to businessman Sudhir Ruparelia, whose investments include the convention center that hosted the NAM summit. The center, a joint venture between Ruparelia and the Ugandan government, symbolizes reconciliation and progress.
Subsequent Ugandan governments reversed Amin’s decrees, inviting the expelled communities to return. Museveni’s comments reflect a broader acknowledgment of the economic and cultural harm caused by Amin’s actions and signal continued efforts to strengthen ties with the Indian diaspora.
The NAM summit also addressed global issues, including recent violence in Gaza, but Museveni’s remarks offered a poignant reflection on Uganda’s history and the enduring legacy of its Indian community.
