In August 1972, Idi Amin, the leader of Uganda, gave the order that Asian people living in Uganda had 90 days to leave the country.
This triggered the mass movement of almost 80,000 Ugandan Asians, seeking refuge in countries all over the world. Boarding planes, most could only take what they could carry or were permitted to carry. Just over 28,000 came to Britain to start new lives, often leaving family, friends, businesses and possessions behind.
This month our Outreach team, led by my colleague Yasmeen Haji, organised a day to reflect, remember and at times celebrate the lives and experiences of those who left Uganda for Britain. Around 100 people from the British Ugandan Asian community came to The National Archives for a day to take part in cultural workshops, discussions and performances to mark the events of 40 years ago.
The National Archives holds many documents relating to this turbulent period in Ugandan history and the lives of those forced to leave. We wanted to share these records with those who experienced it firsthand and hear their memories.
Thanks for this Jenni, I look foward to Karim’s talk. It just goes to show that FCO’s intelligence/knowledge was not what it should have been otherwise it would have been (hopefully) that HM Government should have planned for and should today as in the case of Hong Kong. The resentments arose because London in particular bore the costs but as you rightly point out the Ugandian Asians came with little if anything and have benefitted the UK. The problems with Immigration limits had been a problem for some time and the situation in the British Government in 1972 resembled panic.