President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has promised to consider the long-standing appeal by Uganda’s Indian community to be officially recognized as one of the country’s tribes, a request that was passionately advanced by business magnate Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia.
Speaking during Diwali celebrations at State House Entebbe over the weekend, President Museveni, accompanied by the First Lady Maama Janet Museveni, commended the Indian community for their resilience, economic contribution, and trust in Uganda even after the traumatic expulsion under Idi Amin in 1972.
“Maama Janet and I hosted our Indian brothers and sisters at State House Entebbe to celebrate Diwali 2025. We congratulate the Indian community in Uganda on this joyful occasion,” the President posted on X.
“I am glad that when we called them back after Amin’s mistakes, they returned and trusted Uganda again. I thank them for that confidence. Our economy continues to grow because of their entrepreneurial spirit. Through their factories and services, they are helping us create jobs, a skilled middle class, and revenue for government to educate Ugandans. On citizenship, it is simple — all these Ugandan groups came from somewhere. I wish them a Happy Diwali!”
While addressing the guests in person, among them Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia, and several Asian-Ugandan business leaders, Museveni went further, promising to “consider formally recognizing the Indian community as one of Uganda’s tribes.”
This development follows Sudhir’s widely publicized October interview with TrumpetNews, in which he urged government to grant Uganda’s Asian community tribal status. Sudhir argued that, after more than 120 years in Uganda, Asians have no other home but this one.
“We need an identity in this country just like others who migrated to Uganda and got recognized,” Sudhir said at the time, adding that the community has “deep roots here and contributes significantly to the economy.”
Museveni’s remarks therefore mark the first public endorsement from the Head of State on the matter, suggesting that Sudhir’s request could soon materialize into a formal policy consideration.
The President’s recognition gesture carries both symbolic and historical weight. The Indian community, though small in number, has played a key role in Uganda’s post-war economic recovery investing heavily in manufacturing, real estate, education, and hospitality.
Families such as the Ruparelias, Madhvanis, Mehtas, and Mukwanos have built enterprises that employ thousands of Ugandans and contribute billions in taxes annually.
If the proposal is formalized, Indians could become Uganda’s 66th officially recognized tribe, gaining cultural recognition similar to communities of Nubian or Rwandese descent who were formally integrated into Uganda’s national identity over the years.
Political analysts say the move would symbolize a full-circle moment — transforming a community once expelled into one fully embraced at the heart of Uganda’s national identity.
“From being victims of expulsion to becoming a recognized tribe — it’s a remarkable story of reconciliation, contribution, and belonging,” noted one cultural historian in Kampala.
As Uganda continues to evolve into a multi-ethnic and multicultural nation, President Museveni’s promise may finally fulfill a dream long held by the Indian-Ugandan community and by Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia, whose persistent advocacy appears to be paying off.
