![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/uganda-the-story-your-parents-never-told-you/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/127599470_gettyimages-1202709823.jpg&description=Image source, P. Felix / Getty ImagesImage caption, Ugandan Asian refugees arriving at Stansted Airport in September 1972.Singer Charli XCX and MP Priti Patel are among the British Asians descended from Indians who fled from Uganda in 1972. Tens of thousands came to the UK - but it's a story many have never told. Until now. It's been 50 years since Uganda's ruler, dictator Idi Amin, told about 70,000 Asians living in the East African country they had just 90 days to leave. Many Indians had been brought to Uganda in 1894, while it was under British rule, to build railways.Those who remained went on to become dominant figures in the country's economy - something Idi Amin resented.Roughly 30,000 Asians, most of whom had British passports, came to the UK. Many of those who came over faced difficulties and sometimes physical harm while trying to flee. Some also faced racism upon arrival as they tried to rebuild their lives from scratch in Britain.Today, Ugandan Asians have built successful businesses and futures for the next generation, but many have still not talked to their children or grandchildren about what they faced. Now, on the 50th anniversary of their exile, young people are asking their elders what happened. Image source, Ankur DesaiImage caption, Ankur Desai's mum has only just opened up about what she went throughBBC Asian Network presenter Ankur Desai, who presents radio documentary Uganda: The Story Your Parents Never Told You, only really spoke to his mum Mrudula in the past year about her life growing up in Uganda. She says the order to leave "came just all of a sudden overnight", and people hadn't taken it seriously at first."They were saying that one day Idi Amin dreamt in his sleep that he wants to get rid of all the Indians from Uganda," she says."But then after a couple of days, they noticed that it was becoming serious and then the military over there were hassling our people quite a lot. "Coming to the airport was becoming very difficult. The mili){kind=link}
Singer Charli XCX and MP Priti Patel are among the British Asians descended from Indians who fled from Uganda in 1972. Tens of thousands came to the UK – but it’s a story many have never told. Until now.
It’s been 50 years since Uganda’s ruler, dictator Idi Amin, told about 70,000 Asians living in the East African country they had just 90 days to leave.
Many Indians had been brought to Uganda in 1894, while it was under British rule, to build railways.
Those who remained went on to become dominant figures in the country’s economy – something Idi Amin resented.
Roughly 30,000 Asians, most of whom had British passports, came to the UK. Many of those who came over faced difficulties and sometimes physical harm while trying to flee.