Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the arrival of Asians from Uganda.
On 4 August 1972, the Ugandan dictator, General Idi Amin, sent out the infamous edict ordering around 60,000 Asians to leave the country within 90 days. The first evacuation flight of Asians fleeing from Uganda landed at London's Stansted Airport on 18 September 1972.
To mark the 50th Anniversary of the expulsion in 2022, a commemoration project 'British Ugandan Asians at 50' has been launched with the generous support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund. This critical oral history project aims to capture the recollections of those who volunteered to help with the resettlement of Asians during the crucial early months after they arrived in the UK.
Nice utube. Enjoyed listening to all the people and mr. Colin Grimes. He was my teacher at senior secondary school jinja. Is it possible to contact him.Thanks
I was born in Uganda. Both my grandfathers happen to be imigrants from Oman, while my grandmothers are native Ugandans. I remember hearing from elders in 1972 about the expulsion of Asians when I was only 5 yrs old. Though that young, I was filled with emotions and sadness, which I still do up to these days.
It was 6th of August 1972. We were about to have lunch and one O'clock news came with Amin's bombshell! Can't forget that moment. Next day it was Monday and the Headlines in all newspapers of Uganda were splashed over the front pages!!
I have not come across any mention of Doniford Camp in Somerset. We as Ugandan Refugees were placed there while suitable accommodation could be found for as many families as possible. Unfortunately, no one took any photos of that camp. To us, that camp has nostalgic memories for us even after 50yrs. I wish someone could come forward with some pictures of that place
My sister arrived here at 2 weeks old from Uganda in the early 70s, had a British passport at birth and has lived here ever since. She recently tried to renew her passport and the home office denied it and threatened her with deportation back to Uganda. Please don’t think that we’re welcome here even after all these years, the wolves in charge of us that claim to be proud of their heritage aren’t and they will send us out of here without a second thought.
Hats off to you Rob Waldron, your beloved dad and mum for being so warm and welcoming of the Ugandan Indians during their trying times. Whilst at Plymouth as a student I believe we played a cricket match either at Honiton or Tiverton. Stay safe and blessed always.
She brings up an interesting point. Natives of British India were not too fluent in English. Those Goans from Portuguese India who migrated through British India learned English rather than any local language. In fact in the Catholic school in the 1950s we were forbidden to speak Hindi.When I arrived at a remote town in Tanganyika in 1953, the local school conducted classes in Kutchi. The government flew us to an English speaking boarding school at the capital two times a year.
I was there with my parents. We will always be grateful for the kindness and understanding shown to us by the Stradishall staff and the local people. We remember being taken out to tea by the local vicar - quite an experience! I've always wanted to go back to see what it is like now. One day....
The land of Bharat. The The 1st migration came from Africa 80 thousand years ago. There were several more migrations from the African region. India is the land of the gypsy. The Aryan invasion was a lie because the people of that land already knew how to live and praise the Drivanian God's. Gypsy people will always roam and take over other people's land. Now if this is a fact ask yourself am I lying?????
Why Asians? The semantics are not right here! Asians is a none specific detail of Asians in general. It doesn't discribe in this case, why Indians are not in detail pointed out to be Indians. Asians is a generalization. We have here a specific people, of a specific country in Asia. This group has a name. Why not naming this specific group. This is incompetence. The group that Idi Amin evicted from Uganda were Indians, not Asians. Indians are from Asia. Idi Amin didn't have to move out by law Asians, because Asians in general didn't reside in Uganda.
Karim. I am so proud to call myself your friend. You are incredibly brave and your heart is enourmous. I'm so sorry you had to go through all those scary times. Thank you Wales, 🏴 for giving us such a precious friend. Thank you Karim for being courageous enough to tell your story.
The kindness of strangers can never be underestimated.Those Ugandans will never forget how you made them feel.The present day Ukranians are going through a rough time.I am happy with people like you all.
The Ugandans who were chased from their country of birth and relocated to the host countries where they also got racist taunts at that time,they can never forget how they were made to feel.The consolation they may have now is that their children will not experience such feelings and that they are sucessful in their lives.
