KAMPALA .President Museveni has commended the Indian community in Uganda for their enormous contribution to the country’s economy, praising their entrepreneurial spirit and resilience in driving Uganda’s industrial and financial growth.
Speaking during Diwali celebrations held on Sunday, October 26, 2025, at State House Entebbe, the President said that despite making up less than one per cent of Uganda’s population, the Indian community contributes at least 65 per cent of the country’s income tax revenue, according to figures from the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.
“The economy is growing on account of your entrepreneurial capacities,” Museveni said. “By investing in factories and services, you are helping us to create a skilled working class and a revenue base for government, money that enables us to educate Ugandans and build a modern society.”
‘You Restored Trust in Uganda After Amin’s Expulsion’
President Museveni thanked the Indian community for restoring their trust in Uganda after the painful 1972 expulsion of Asians by the late dictator Idi Amin Dada, which saw over 80,000 Indians expelled and thousands of local businesses destroyed.
“I went to an Indian temple in London and found Indians lamenting about Amin’s actions,” Museveni recalled. “I told them that Amin did more damage to Africans than Indians because he damaged our economy and killed several people. I am glad you came back when we called you — thank you for trusting Uganda again.”
Before the expulsion, Uganda had around 80,000 Indians, with property holdings estimated at 40,000 assets. Today, the community numbers about 40,000, with strong representation in industry, manufacturing, banking, and trade — forming a backbone of Uganda’s private sector.
Indian Community Leaders Praise Museveni’s Vision
The Indian High Commissioner to Uganda, H.E. Singh Rawat, commended President Museveni for publicly recognizing the contribution of the Indian community to Uganda’s socio-economic progress.
“We welcome your continued encouragement for investment in value addition and manufacturing,” Rawat said. “Your administration’s efforts to restore property rights and welcome back members of our diaspora have revived Uganda’s economy.”
The Minister for Presidency, Hon. Babirye Milly Babalanda, also applauded the Indian community for “shielding Uganda’s economy,” urging them to attract more Indian investors to the country. “We should use this year’s Diwali to attract other strategic friends to join you in investing in Uganda,” Babalanda said.
Mr. Paresh Mehta, the Chairman of the Indian Association of Uganda, described the expulsion of Indians in 1972 as a national tragedy that hurt Uganda more than the expelled community. “Uganda lost a part of its productive and enterprising spirit,” Mehta said. “But under Your Excellency’s leadership, Uganda has become a country of opportunity and progress.”
He cited prominent Indian families — the Ruparelias, Madhvanis, and Mehtas — as examples of resilience and success. Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia, for instance, returned to Uganda with just USD 25,000 (UGX 86 million) but has since built a business empire valued at USD 1.6 billion, employing thousands of Ugandans.
Deepening Bilateral Ties
Uganda and India share a rich history of cooperation spanning trade, investment, development, and technology transfer. Bilateral trade between the two nations has now surpassed USD 1.2 billion, while the Indian government continues to support Uganda through development assistance and defense cooperation.
Beyond business, the Indian community has also played a major humanitarian role — sending 238 Ugandan children to India for life-saving heart surgeries and donating 65,000 units of blood through ongoing drives across the country, including recent donations at Singo Military Training School and the Sai Centre in Kampala.
This was the 8th Diwali Dinner hosted by President Museveni since 2013, reinforcing what he described as “a partnership built on trust, resilience, and shared progress.” The dinner was attended to by prominent Indian-Ugandan investors, including Ugandan tycoon Dr Sudhir Ruparelia of the Ruparelia Group.