Indians in Uganda
Encyclopedia
There are currently over 12,000 people of Indian origin living in Uganda, but this is a far cry from their heyday. In the late 1890s, over 30,000 Indians, mostly Sikhs, were brought on 3 year contracts to build the Uganda Railway
from Mombasa
to Kisumu by 1901, and to Kampala
by 1931. Some died, while others returned to India after the end of their contracts, but around 7,000 chose to stay. They were joined by Gujarati traders, both Hindu and Muslim who came to capitalise on the economic opportunities.
Over time, these Indians became very prosperous and dominated the entire economy, which caused resentment among the African population. After independence, these resentments came to a crisis, when Idi Amin
ousted Milton Obote
after a military coup d'etat
. He quickly proceeded to expel all Asians from Uganda. See Expulsion of Asians in Uganda in 1972
for a detailed account of events.
As a result, many Indians migrated to the United Kingdom, the United States and elsewhere and began rebuilding their lives. The fate suffered by the Ugandan Indians, are among the most extreme cases of Indophobia
in recent times. This has been the subject of several works of fiction and movies, most notably Mississippi Masala
, Charas
and The Last King of Scotland
.
Most of the people work in Kiboko Group of Companies http://www.kibokogroup.com, since the company is operating their operations throughout Afirca and Managing Director is from Andhra Pradesh.
Uganda Railway
The Uganda Railway is a railway system and former railway company linking the interiors of Uganda and Kenya with the Indian Ocean at Mombasa in Kenya.-Origins:...
from Mombasa
Mombasa
Mombasa is the second-largest city in Kenya. Lying next to the Indian Ocean, it has a major port and an international airport. The city also serves as the centre of the coastal tourism industry....
to Kisumu by 1901, and to Kampala
Kampala
Kampala is the largest city and capital of Uganda. The city is divided into five boroughs that oversee local planning: Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division and Lubaga Division. The city is coterminous with Kampala District.-History: of Buganda, had chosen...
by 1931. Some died, while others returned to India after the end of their contracts, but around 7,000 chose to stay. They were joined by Gujarati traders, both Hindu and Muslim who came to capitalise on the economic opportunities.
Over time, these Indians became very prosperous and dominated the entire economy, which caused resentment among the African population. After independence, these resentments came to a crisis, when Idi Amin
Idi Amin
Idi Amin Dada was a military leader and President of Uganda from 1971 to 1979. Amin joined the British colonial regiment, the King's African Rifles in 1946. Eventually he held the rank of Major General in the post-colonial Ugandan Army and became its Commander before seizing power in the military...
ousted Milton Obote
Milton Obote
Apolo Milton Obote , Prime Minister of Uganda from 1962 to 1966 and President of Uganda from 1966 to 1971, then again from 1980 to 1985. He was a Ugandan political leader who led Uganda towards independence from the British colonial administration in 1962.He was overthrown by Idi Amin in 1971, but...
after a military coup d'etat
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
. He quickly proceeded to expel all Asians from Uganda. See Expulsion of Asians in Uganda in 1972
Expulsion of Asians in Uganda in 1972
On 4 August 1972, the then President of Uganda, Idi Amin, ordered the expulsion of his country's Indian minority, giving them 90 days to leave Uganda...
for a detailed account of events.
As a result, many Indians migrated to the United Kingdom, the United States and elsewhere and began rebuilding their lives. The fate suffered by the Ugandan Indians, are among the most extreme cases of Indophobia
Indophobia
Indophobia refers to hostility towards Indians and Indian culture. Indophobia is formally defined in the context of anti-Indian prejudice in East Africa and Australia as follows: "Indophobia is a tendency to react negatively towards people of Indian...
in recent times. This has been the subject of several works of fiction and movies, most notably Mississippi Masala
Mississippi Masala
Mississippi Masala is a romantic drama film directed by Mira Nair, based upon a screenplay by Sooni Taraporevala, starring Denzel Washington, Sarita Choudhury, and Roshan Seth. Set primarily in rural Mississippi, the film explores interracial romance between African Americans and Indian Americans...
, Charas
Charas (film)
Charas is a 1976 Hindi movie produced and directed by Ramanand Sagar. The film stars Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Ajit, Aruna Irani, Amjad Khan, Asrani, Sujit Kumar, Keshto Mukherjee and Tom Alter. The film's music is by Laxmikant Pyarelal...
and The Last King of Scotland
The Last King of Scotland
The Last King of Scotland is an award-winning 1998 novel by journalist Giles Foden. Focusing on the rise of Ugandan President Idi Amin and his reign as dictator from 1971 to 1979, the novel is written as the memoir of a fictional Scottish doctor in Amin's employ. Giles Foden's novel received...
.
Most of the people work in Kiboko Group of Companies http://www.kibokogroup.com, since the company is operating their operations throughout Afirca and Managing Director is from Andhra Pradesh.