On 4 August 1972, the then President of Uganda Idi Amin Dada ordered the expulsion of his country’s Asian minority, Indians, giving them 90 days to leave the country.
At the time of the expulsion, there were about 80,000 individuals of Indian descent in Uganda, of whom 23,000 had their applications for citizenship both processed and accepted.
Many had business, families, and huge investments which they forfeited to save life.
As some returned to Indian others sought refugee in United Kingdom, Canada and other countries.
Uganda’s richest man Dr Sudhir Ruparelia is among the Indians who suffered the wrath of Amin until 1980s when he returned to Uganda after President Yoweri Museveni revoked Amin’s declaration and invited them back and some regained their properties.
To commemorate the sad day when dictator Amin made the pronouncement which dragged the country behind in terms of economic development, Dr Sudhir and his wife Joystna Ruparelia invited all the Indians from the nooks of the world to celebrate with them at their palatial residence in Kololo, the high end Kampala suburb.
It was merry-making, as Sudhir treated his guests to all tribes of Indian cuisine and drinks, interactions and dancing as they reminisced the good old days.