VIDEO: Asians return to Uganda 45 years after 1972 expulsion
What you need to know:
- On Monday afternoon, at about 2pm, some 38 Asians pushed their luggage through the airport to the arrival lounge to meet Great Lakes’ Amos Wekesa and his team who were there to receive them.
45 years is shy of being half a century. So you could understand the emotions when Ramesh Kotecha touched down at Entebbe International Airport. As he was disembarking, he stopped for a few seconds, took a deep breath then took in the breeze off Lake Victoria's fresh waters, his eyes tearing.
Ramesh Kotecha, one of the Asians that returned to Uganda after 45 years, raises his hands in excitement for being back home in Uganda, since they were expelled from Uganda in 1972, by then president Idi Amin. He said that while he lives in the UK, he always feels a part of him belongs to Uganda, so he is here to trace his roots to his district and explore Uganda’s magnificent tourism beauty. Photo by EDGAR R. BATTE.
Returning to Uganda after all this time for him was an emotional experience, as 45 years ago, the then Uganda President, Idi Amin Dada, made the discomforting ultimatum for Asians, of mostly Indian descent, to leave the country in 90 days.
Dhirendra Morjaria, a tour operator in Leicester, who is behind organizing the return of 38 Asians to Uganda after 45 years, gives a gift to fellow tour operator, Amos Wekesa, of Great Lakes Safaris, with whom he organizing the trip. This was at Entebbe International Airport. Morjaria was born in Iganga and will be returning to home town to see how much it has changed to trace his roots there. Photo by EDGAR R. BATTE.
At the time many could not see how they could begin their lives again out of Uganda and painfully, voluntarily took their lives, some by drowning in River Nile. Such gruesome memories weighed down Kotecha who took steps down the plane staircase, went down on his knees on the ground, bowed his head and kissed the tarmac.
Some of the Asians that touched down at Entebbe International Airport on Monday afternoon admire some of Uganda’s beauty before boarding a coaster that transported them to Kampala where they stayed for a night before going out to different towns where they lived, did business and interacted before they were expelled from Uganda by then Uganda president, Idi Amin, in 1972 on accusation of economically exploiting Uganda. The group is in Uganda for 14 days. Photo by EDGAR R. BATTE.
And as he started singing while raising his hands up high, many emulated his actions, many happy to finally be back home, to their home country. On Monday afternoon, at about 2pm, some 38 Asians pushed their luggage through the airport to the arrival lounge to meet Great Lakes’ Amos Wekesa and his team who were there to receive them.
