This year commemorates the 50th anniversary of former President Idi Amin's deportation of the Asian people from Uganda.
On August 4, 1972, Amin declared the deportation of Asians and gave them 90 days to leave Uganda. It is regarded as one of the worst incidents in Ugandan history, particularly for Asians. Thousands of Indians who had substantially invested in Uganda and considered it their home were forced to depart when their enterprises were handed over to Amin's friends, military, and government officials.
To commemorate this historic event, a group of Indians headed by Bharat Ghelani, Chief Planner and Organiser Uganda Reunion 2022, is organising a meeting in Uganda for those who want to see their homeland.
Bharat told this website in an interview at Munyonyo Speke Resort on Friday that they had planned a massive party for which hundreds of Indians will travel into Uganda.
Additional trips were made available via our travel partners for anyone who wanted to prolong their stay and visit Kenya or Tanzania. "Where we were born, how we grew up, the schools we attended, and the companies we established with our family will make a vivid memory," Bharat remarked.
He stated that the celebrations will provide the Indian community with "a time to reflect on the expulsion from Uganda, the traumatic journey, new beginnings and life today, after leaving Uganda the future that we built, and how remarkably successful ex-Ugandan Asians have become wherever they happened to settle in the world."
"Ugandan Asians are widely regarded for their economic ability, particularly in the United Kingdom and Canada; they have become incredibly successful and continue to contribute substantially to the economy of their present countries of residency," Bharat added.
When asked why he chose to host the festivities, Bharat said that his major goal was to encourage tourism in this lovely nation and, as a result, many various tours of Uganda by our visitors.
"It will bring together a variety of excursions and activities that will make this a vacation of a lifetime, allowing everyone to reconnect with old friends from all over the world." In other words, he told the New Vision, "We want to make sure that the journey is worthy of this historic event."
Bharat said that he has been organising celebrations in both the UK and Uganda with a variety of artistic organisations, community groups, and the media.
"Words cannot explain how happy I am that we will all be here, together, laughing and catching up after such a long time." It will be a thrill to see that spring has arrived and that 50 years have flown so swiftly since we left this wonderful nation," he said.
Bharat observed that, despite the fact that distance divides us all, lasting friendship relationships are stronger than ever.
Seeing all of us here together will bring back so many memories from the years gone by. Unfortunately, many Ex-Ugandan Asians are unable to join the event for different reasons! Sadly, we have also lost many of our good friends; we miss you all terribly, but I am certain that their spirits will be among us all on the day," he stated.
He expressed his profound gratitude to his fellow committee members, including Ramesh Bharania from the United States and Khalil Allahdin and Maurice Fernandes from Canada, who all worked diligently with him to organise, plan, and execute this one-of-a-kind meeting.
"We do not grow old because we cease enjoying; we grow old because we stop enjoying." "You have to have that dream and desire to continue in some form with the life that we all love so much; if you lose that drive to live, you physically die," Bharat said.
He said that there is a significant distinction between getting older and growing up. Anyone can become older. That requires no skill or ability.
"The aim is to mature by continually seeking out opportunities to change." You should have no regrets. The elderly frequently do not regret what they did, but rather what they did not do. "It's time to celebrate all the living we still have left to do and resolve to creating good changes, little and huge, within ourselves, our families, our societies, and therefore the planet we live in," Bharat added.
He said that they would have many legends, both from outside and locally, who are eager to offer a platform for all of today's younger generation Ugandan Asians to allow everyone's love and commitment be real, so that yesterday's feeling, today's tenacity, and tomorrow's pursuit may be true.
"Friendship is a flower with a pleasant aroma that lets people appreciate the beauty of the world." "Friendship is a drop of water that quenches the thirst of the heart and makes the human body taste warm," he remarked.
He expressed his wish that the meeting will be a good legacy for our children.
"I have to thank the fabulous team here at Munyonyo, working under the stewardship of Sudhir Ruparelia, sincerely and from the bottom of my heart, for giving me a free hand in my responsibility for the welfare and success of this prestigious event at this scrumptious Speke Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort."
Without the team at Munyonyo's unwavering support, advice, and expertise, it would not have been able to organise, plan, and execute this event, which is undoubtedly a once-in-a-lifetime chance for all my Ugandan friends," Bharat remarked.
He also conveyed his heartfelt appreciation for the tremendous encouragement and support he had gotten from my many local friends here in Kampala.
"I am convinced that everyone attending will have a fantastic time over the next two days," Bharat said.
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