I just want to dispel misinformation about the Asians in Uganda who were expelled by Idi Amin.
They saw themselves as superior to Ugandans- they felt their brown skin was better than black skin and that white skin was the top of the ladder.
They ill treated Ugandans, heaped scorn on them.
They took from the country but gave nothing back.
They live in isolation, for the most part, they kept away from Ugandans in every social activities.
They did not care about nation building
They believed in the caste system they carry with them from India
Anyone who argues otherwise is badly misinformed. I will add, about 5% of the Asians wanted full assimilation and integration into Uganda's society and culture, they were over-powered.
Idi Amin did what was best for his people and country when he expelled them, no self respecting leader would have allowed a foreign group to recolonize his people.
I did not support the other things he did, I am speaking singularly to that one policy regarding the expulsion of the parasites who tried to suck the blood of his country.
Canada and other countries that took them in was wrong to do so and they missed an opportunity to correct an historical wrong.
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IDI AMIN EXPULSION OF SOUTH ASIANS
Hear hear
In reply to Halliwell
I am relating my doctor's version.
He had a large practice and dealt with many poor citizens in his community.
He was given one day to leave his home, vehicles, small farm that employed locals, their jewelry, money, etc
He came to Canada and rewrote the Medical Board requirements and internship.
Wanted to become a neurologist but failed his exams. Practiced as GP in the toughest part of Hamilton, Ontario
Retired 7 years ago... He dreams of Uganda.
Had 3 daughters born in Canada...now today
one ...Neurologist
one ... Gastrologist
one ... Cardiologist
They have offices in Burlington, Oakville, and Hamilton, Ontario.
When Uganda lost this family. Canada benefitted.
In reply to sgtdjones
Fair point, except I doubt he was forced to leave his money and jewelry
In reply to Brerzerk
It's been 50 years since Uganda's ruler, dictator Idi Amin, told about 70,000 Asians living in the East African country they had just 90 days to leave.
Many Indians had been brought to Uganda in 1894, while it was under British rule, to build railways.
Those who remained went on to become dominant figures in the country's economy - something Idi Amin resented.
Roughly 30,000 Asians, most of whom had British passports, came to the UK. Many of those who came over faced difficulties and sometimes physical harm while trying to flee.
Some also faced racism upon arrival as they tried to rebuild their lives from scratch in Britain.
Today, Ugandan Asians have built successful businesses and futures for the next generation, but many have still not talked to their children or grandchildren about what they faced.
She says the order to leave "came just all of a sudden overnight", and people hadn't taken it seriously at first.
"They were saying that one day Idi Amin dreamt in his sleep that he wants to get rid of all the Indians from Uganda," she says.
"Coming to the airport was becoming very difficult. The military were stopping them, beating them up, stealing whatever they were getting.
"Jewellery, money - everything."Everybody was leaving just to escape," she says.
Uganda: The story your parents never told you
Ugandan Asians and Idi-Amin Factsheet
At the time of the expulsion, there were about 50,000 individuals of Indian descent living in Uganda. The government
froze their bank accounts and assets.
The luggage allowance on planes for those having to flee was 20kg and they could only take £50 in cash.
Gold jewellery was one way to take money out of the country.
However, this became a liability as women were stripsearched, beaten, and raped by soldiers at roadblocks and at the airport.
Discipline and the rule of law were replaced bychaos and anarchy.
So in 1972, he decided to expel all the Indians from Uganda, giving them only 90 days to leave the country.
He said he was doing this to "Africanize" the economy and to fulfill a prophecy he had received from God.
He also said he was correcting a historical injustice that had been done by the British, who had brought the Indians to Uganda in the first place.
He confiscated their wealth and property and distributed it to his cronies and supporters.
The expulsion of the Indians was a huge shock to the Ugandan society and economy.
The Indians were about 80,000 people, and they had contributed a lot to the development of the country. They had also formed ties with many Ugandans, especially in urban areas like Kampala.
Many of them had applied for and obtained Ugandan citizenship, but Amin revoked it and made them stateless.
Some of them managed to stay behind by hiding or bribing officials, but most of them had to leave with nothing but their clothes.
I have intimate knowledge the issue, even know ppl whose relative "inherited" their employer's car. I think the lady quoted above did a docu. The money /jewelry thing I think has been exaggerated.
In reply to Brerzerk
They were ordered to leave everything behind. However, the Indians were smarter and found ways to get some of their stuff out.
In reply to googley
He has intimate knowledge, yet Dr. Ladd came penniless to Canada and told me what he and his wife faced.
Amazing this site.
Limited property: Expellees were only allowed to take $120 and 485 lb (220 kg) of property.
Confiscated assets: The government confiscated homes, cars, farms, ranches, and other assets.
Loss of livelihoods: The expulsion destroyed many livelihoods and life savings.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Asians from the Indian subcontinent returned to Uganda and have become a pillar of the economy.
There weren't any Indians in the army or police force?
When you are minority, yuh gotta strategize carefully a la the Jews!
Emir said:
googley said:
...continue...
In reply to JahJah
Its amazing how you missed this... selective assimilation..huh?
Gold jewellery was one way to take money out of the country.
However, this became a liability as women were stripsearched, beaten, and raped by soldiers at roadblocks and at the airport.
Yes, Indians and other Asians were forced to leave their wealth when they were expelled from Uganda in 1972:
Limited property: Expellees were only allowed to take $120 and 485 lb (220 kg) of property.
Confiscated assets: The government confiscated homes, cars, farms, ranches, and other assets.
Loss of livelihoods: The expulsion destroyed many livelihoods and life savings.
In reply to Emir
Thank you Emir, I truly respect you for your very balanced, thoughtful and intelligent views, very refreshing.
In reply to Slipfeeler
He did a lot worse to his own people
In reply to velo
He is a brother; what ever he did to his ilk , matters not
Once he kicked out all foreigners, it was cool.
Uganda was once the food backbone of Africa. Now starvation is welcomed. Its we land now ...
In reply to velo
[quote]He did a lot worse to his own people[/quote
Correct, and you would think he would have been severely criticized and condemned for those atrocities, but he was not, instead they focused on the good thing he did with the expulsion of settlers who hated Ugandan culture and abused his people and the country.
In reply to sgtdjones
Nothing to miss. I'm pretty sure you know what happened to some Africans in India. However that has nothing to do with my post. I am point out the long standing notion that Black people are genetically inferior and must be treated as such.
Try staying focused.
I didn't even rope in the USA situation to back up what Emir said. You know...the Haleys of the world who benefitted from Black benevolence (while being sheltered from White supremacy) only to turn around piss in Black faces in and supporting that very same White supremacy.
Ta!
In reply to JahJah
ok ...point taken.
In reply to googley
Sounds a lot like what happened in Guyana
In reply to sgtdjones
Brother Sarge,
Stop it please! There's plenty, plenty food in Uganda! Starving what? But then you also believe that Indians who knew they had only 90 days to flee got all their money and jewelry stolen on the day of departure.
Uganda welcomes refugees from Sudan/South Sudan, Eritrea, All The Congos, Somalia...that land-lockedcountry of so many border neighbors has a full welcome and full rights, enough food for guests but starving?
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