President Museveni of Uganda praises the Indian diaspora for starting 900 factories

GG News Bureau

New Delhi, 21th Jan. President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda acknowledged the important contributions made by Indian returnees to his nation’s economic landscape during the Non-Aligned Movement summit held in Kampala.

President Museveni said, highlighting their outstanding accomplishments, “I was wondering how many factories have been constructed by our Indian returnees. They informed me of the 900 factories they had constructed since their return.”

Upon contemplating Uganda’s past, including the deportation of Asians—the bulk of whom were Indian Ugandans—during the tenure of Idi Amin, President Museveni admitted the government’s terrible errors.

He said, “NAM countries also sometimes make mistakes like here in Uganda.” He described the negative effects of Amin’s deeds, particularly what happened to his nation’s economy. Because to Amin’s conduct, India severed its connections with his regime throughout his reign.

The negative effects of Amin’s choices on the national economy were emphasized by President Museveni, who said, “You had a leader of a NAM country undermining his own economy.” The people who were banished worked in a variety of industries, including steel, hotels, and sugar.

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During that turbulent time, the president bemoaned the prospects for growth and progress that were lost. President Museveni outlined the actions the Ugandan government had done to make up for historical wrongs.

He said, “When we kicked out all these people, and we came into government, we gave back the properties of our Asian citizens and non-citizens that Amin had taken from them.”

The return of properties through a discussion in parliament showed a dedication to righting historical wrongs and creating an atmosphere that supports economic growth.

He highlighted India’s contribution to the NAM group’s founding and its attendance at the organization’s first summit, held in Belgrade in 1961, during the summit.