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General Amin and the Indian Exodus from Uganda

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 May 2019

Extract

During the first week in August 1972 General Idi Amin Dada, President of the Second Republic of Uganda, announced the mass expulsion of Asians over a period not to exceed three months. Thus began the final chapter in the story of the Indian presence in Uganda. General Amin had once again made newspaper headlines all over the world. While press coverage had not been favorable to the General, it became particularly scathing in October when he expressed his views on Hitler and the Jews. What began as consternation quickly turned into intense vitriol against Amin, and newspapers throughout the world reflected this change. With the exception of a few papers in West, East, and Central Africa, however, most of the African press did not comment on the General's pronouncements. Black African leaders — with the notable exception of President Kaunda of Zambia and President Nyerere of Tanzania — adopted a curious attitude of non-interference.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © African Studies Association 1972 

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References

Footnotes

1 See The Times, (London), September 13, 1972.

2 For extracts from some overseas newspapers see Yash Tandon, “The Crisis of the Jews of East Africa,” paper delivered to the East African Universities Social Science Council Conference, December 19-23, 1972, Nairobi, Kenya, p.1; also see The Times, (London), October 8, 1972.

3 Justin O'Brien, “Brown Britons — The Crisis of the Uganda Asians,” Runnymede Trust Publication, (London), 1972, p.13.

4 Memorandum of the Asian Leaders to His Excellency the President of the Second Republic of Uganda, General Idi Amin Dada, 7 December 1971, p.3.

5 Ibid., p.4.

6 Speech by His Excellency the President of the Second Republic of Uganda General Idi Amin Dada delivered to the Asian Conference, 8 December 1972, p.1.

7 Ibid., p.5.

8 Ibid., p.10.

9 Memorandum dated 4 January 1972 of the Asian Leaders to His Excellency the President of the Second Republic of Uganda General Idi Amin Dada, in response to His Excellency's speech of 8 December 1971, p.1.

10 Ibid., p.15.

11 Ibid., p.16.

12 Ibid., p.19/20.

13 Uganda Argus, August 5, 1972.

14 O'Brien, p.1.

15 Uganda Argus, August 14, 1972.

16 Uganda Argus, August 21 , 1972.

17 Uganda Argus, August 23, 1972.

18 The Times, August 11, 1972.

19 The Times, August 12, 1972 and Observer. August 13, 1972.

20 Sunday Times, August 27, 1972.

21 The Times, August 30 , 1972.

22 The Times, October 5, 1972.

23 The Times, October 8 . 1972.

24 The Times, September 17, 1972.

25 Ali A. Mazrui, “The De-lndianisation of Uganda: Does it require an Educational Revolution?“ paper delivered to the East African Universities Social Science Council Conference, December 19-23, 1972, Nairobi, Kenya, p.3.

26 See especially Y.P. Ghai, “Prospects for Asians in East Africa,“ in Racial and Communal Tensions in East Africa, The East African Institute of Social and Cultural Affairs, Nairobi, East African Publishing House, 1966, pp.9-26; also see Y. Tandon, especially pp.5 and 8.

27 For some observations on Africa as a whole on this point see Hasu H. Patel,“ Culture and Technology: Some Problems and Prospects for Africa,“ Africa in World Affairs : The Next Thirty Years, eds. AliA. Mazrui and Hasu H. Patel, The Third Press, (New York ), 1973.

28 Mazrui, op. cit., p.16.

29 For the effects of these measures on Indian political status see Hasu H. Patel, “Indians in Uganda — An Overview of Their Political Status,” paper presented to the Annual Meeting of the African Studies Association, November 8 - 11 , 1972, Philadelphia, Pa.

30 For an analysis of the deficiencies of the socialist revolution see I. Gershenberg, “Slouching towards Socialism: Obote's Uganda,” African Studies Review, Volume XV , No.1, April, 1972, pp.79-95.

31 The Times, September 5 and 28, 1972.