Exhibition to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Ugandan Expulsion, highlighting the experience of British Ugandan Asians and the many volunteers who helped them.

In August 1972, Ugandan President Idi Amin ordered the country’s Indian and Pakistani communities to leave within 90 days. Many of the displaced were British citizens and, as a result, around 28,000 people emigrated to the UK, where the community has gone to make a disproportionate impact on the economic and social life of Britain.

To mark the 50th anniversary, British Ugandan Asians at 50 (BUA@50) has recorded oral histories to capture the recollections of those who were residents of resettlement camps, or who volunteered to help with the reception of the expellees during the crucial early months after their arrival. The volunteers formed part of an extraordinary response involving 63 voluntary organisations that, at its peak, staffed sixteen reception and resettlement camps across the UK. One of the camps that BUA50 has focused on is Heathfield (now Heathpark) in Honiton.

This touring exhibition retells the story through period photographs, oral history footage, press clippings and memorabilia relating to the Expulsion and resettlement. It will include excerpts from the interviews.

If you were a volunteer or resident of the Heathfield camp in 1972/3 and would like to share your story, please contact: mystory@bua50.org and copy info@honitonmuseum.co.uk

The exhibition will culminate on 29^th October with a celebration and camp reunion, including the unveiling of ceremonial plaque and tree planting. This will take place at The Beehive, Honiton.

British Ugandan Asians at 50 (BUA50.ORG) – is a programme of the India Overseas Trust with the support of The National Lottery Heritage Fund. It honours not only a largely unknown part of the history of British volunteering heritage, but an extraordinary historical episode that helped shape modern Britain’s diversity.

Why Ugandan Asians were expelled by Idi Amin and how they ended up in UK | ITV News Central