Exhibition panel 1 from the ‘From Migration to Resilience: The Welsh Ugandan Asian Story’ exhibition, displayed at the Senedd Oriel, Cardiff between 16 November – 19 December 2024.

The story begins with the migration of Indians to East Africa as indentured labourers during the colonial era. Many stayed on, building businesses and communities that contributed to Uganda’s prosperity. By the 1970s, however, President Idi Amin expelled the Asian population, giving them just 90 days to leave with minimal belongings. Around 80,000 people were displaced, losing homes, businesses, and often families. Some sought refuge in temporary UN camps, while others left under pressure from earlier Africanisation policies. Many Ugandan Asians held British passports and 28,000 were accepted into the UK, starting a new chapter of displacement and resilience.