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It is 40 years since Idi Amin expelled Asians from Uganda, accusing them of 'milking the economy' and refusing to integrate. Was there truth behind the claims?

This autumn marks 40 years since Idi Amin expelled Asians from Uganda. Regarded by some as the backbone of the Ugandan economy, many had been living in the country for more than a century. In this documentary Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Asian Network's Rupal Rajani, whose own family were one of around 30, 000 families who came to settle in the UK, explores the Asian population's attitude to the indigenous community. Were they partly to blame for their expulsion? General Amin called Asians "bloodsuckers" and accused them of milking the economy of its wealth. Rupal explores accusations of racist attitudes against black Africans - was it acceptable to employ them as labourers, nannies and gardeners but not to socially interact with them? Today some Asians are back in Uganda - how do their attitudes compare with their parents' ?

Produced by: Perminder Khatkar and Catrin Nye.

Available now

30 minutes

Broadcast

  • Mon 6 Aug 2012 18:00