AN INDIAN diaspora project has donated surplus funds to charities in Uganda following events to mark the 40th anniversary of the expulsion of Asians from the African country.
At the end of the anniversary project, India Overseas Trust and the 40th Anniversary of
Uganda Asians committee had approximately £20,000 surplus which they have donated to charities Rights International/Uganda Hands for Hope and Rotary Club of Kampala.
Praful Patel, a chairman of the celebration committee, told Eastern Eye last Friday (6) the project wanted to “give back to Uganda”.
“We decided that we would look at some good, dependable and reliable projects. Both
charities help children and those with disabilities – they do an excellent job,” he said.
The anniversary project marked four decades since Asians were expelled from Uganda in 1972 by then-president Idi Amin.
Patel explained that many of the expelled Asians have passed away, so the aim of the project now is to remind the younger generation of their origin and family history.
“We decided to do it to encourage the younger Ugandan-British generation to remind them about what happened,” he told Eastern Eye.
After the project came to an end, the committee invited charities in Uganda to apply for funding and had four potential applications.
The committee finally chose two bids: one from Rights International/Uganda Hands for Hope and Rotary Club of Kampala, which will be given £12,000 and £8,000 respectively.
Rights International said they were “delighted” to have secured funding and the money will be used to “improve lives of vulnerable children with disabilities and special needs living in Namuwongo slum, Kampala”.
The Rotary Club of Kampala works with young people to help them secure employment and learn entrepreneur skills. They also arrange motivational talks by successful entrepreneurs to help inspire the youth within Kampala.
Patel himself is originally from Uganda and arrived in Britain in 1958. Following the expulsion crisis in 1972, he helped thousands of families to integrate in British society and start a new life. He is also a former Member of the Ugandan Resettlement Board.
As a chairman on the committee, Patel helped to supervise many of the events within the celebrations, including thanksgiving services in two Hindu temples, the Ismaili Centre and the Leicester Cathedral.
The project further sponsored two debates on British Uganda Asians contribution in the UK, in the House of Commons and House of Lords, and enclosed a full-page advertisement as thanks to the Queen.
A highlight of the project was the installation of a plaque at Stansted Airport dedicated as a permanent memorial of Ugandan Asians. The airport was one of the first to welcome those who were expelled.
