Uganda: Information about the general situation of Asians in Kampala
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 October 1990 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | UGA6987 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Uganda: Information about the general situation of Asians in Kampala, 1 October 1990, UGA6987, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac1974.html [accessed 21 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
In 1972, Idi Amin expelled about 80,000 Ugandan Asians and expropriated their properties. According to the Globe and Mail (20 March 1989), the Departed Asians' Property Custodian Board, a government agency, controls the Asians' properties expropriated by the Amin regime in 1972.
The World Directory of Minorities estimates that there were about 1000 in 1984. This source further reports that since 1979 when Idi Amin was overthrown, several Asian companies have returned to Uganda but "on a corporate rather than individual basis and few other than Indian and Pakistani contract personnel have resided there (224).
In September 1982, the Ugandan parliament reportedly passed a special act governing the expropriated Asians' property. Under the act, all property taken over under the Amin regime was to be returned to its former owners. Reportedly, the act further stipulated that "adequate compensation" would be paid to those Asians who did not want to repossess their property (The Xinhua General Overseas News Service, 2 February 1983, 20). The Asians were allegedly requested to submit their claims within 90 days of the act's becoming law and return to live in Uganda within 120 days their claims being agreed to (Europa, 1986, 996).
This pledge has reportedly been upheld by the Museveni government (Minority Rights Group, 1989, 224). This information is corroborated by Legum (1988) who reports that 1,700 applications were made for the return of property. According to this source, about 200 applications have reportedly been processed by the three successive governments (Obote's, Okello's and Museveni's). In mid-1987, however, the government reportedly revoked 165 out of 190 repossession certificates allegedly "to regulate previous orders for repossession" (B477). However, the Globe and Mail (Ross, 20 March 1989), reports that only a few Asians have returned to Uganda to rehabilitate their properties. Consequently the government reportedly plans to sell the properties. For further information please see the attached documents.
References and Attachments
Ross, Oakland. "Returning Asians Struggle to Resuscitate Businesses in Uganda", Globe and Mail, 20 March 1989.
Legum, Colin, ed., Africa Contemporary Record, Annual Survey Documents, 1986-1987, New York and London: Africana Publishing Company, B477.
Minority Rights Group, World Directory of Minorities: Longman International Reference, London: Longman, 1989.
