KAMPALA, UGANDA: President Yoweri Museveni yesterday (Friday) hosted the Indian Community in Uganda for a mega dinner at State House Entebbe as part of celebrations for Diwali, an Indian festival that symbolises the spiritual victory of light over darkness among Indian community faiths.
“I hosted the Indian Community in Uganda for a Diwali dinner at State House Entebbe. The Gujaratis have played a lead role in Uganda’s social, and industrial development for the last many decades. It is only Amin who saw them as a problem, he didn’t value the chain of wealth creation,” tweeted the President on Friday, November 4, 2022.
“I congratulate you on your diwali this year and inform you that Ugandans who see very far are very happy with you people, you have made a very big contribution to our economy,” he said.
During the dinner, Mr Museveni commended Indian Community singling out Businessman Sudhir Ruparelia, (the Chairman and Founder of Ruparelia Group of Companies), Tycoon Azhar Jaffer (the Managing Director of Fairway Hotel) saying these two among other Indian investors have transformed Uganda socially and economically through wealth creation.
Museveni also noted that Ugandans have had a long relationship with Indians citing relations with the first four Indian families that settled in parts of Ankole describing the relationship as symbiotic.
“We had initially four Indian families and we had no friction with them, the relationship was symbiotic because we were playing different roles in wealth creation,“ he noted,”those who expelled Indians were parasites who did not value the chain of wealth creation.”
The President pointed out that the wealth creators have no contradictions since they compliment each other referring to the Indian expulsion from Uganda being done by wealth consumers who had no clue on the production process.
President Museveni further assured the Indian community and Uganda at large that Ebola will be contained and allayed any fears of a lockdown. “There will be no lockdown for Ebola,” he said. He asked the people to be more vigilant and observe the standard procedures put in place to control the spread of Ebola.
Regarding their Ugandan citizenship, Mr Museveni said “Hence, regarding citizenship, therefore, there should not be issues with children whose Indian parents are already citizens of Uganda, even those who are not citizens but frequently come to Uganda for business should be given multiple/entry visas in the country.”
The president also implored the Indian community to opt for more investment in mainly steel and agriculture, as this is the sector that will develop the country further.
“Finally, I want to call upon more Indian investors to set up here, we still need investment in value addition in dairy, steel, agriculture, tanning etc. I congratulate the Indian community and wish them wonderful celebrations.
The Indian High Commissioner to Uganda, H.E Ajay Kumar commented the excellent bilateral relations that Uganda and India continue to enjoy over the years. He appreciated the President for his continued support to the Indian community in the country.
The Chairman Indian Association in Uganda, Mr. G.N Mohan Rao saluted the President for his support to the Indian community. He said the invitation to celebrate with Indians is a symbol of togetherness and inclusion and a sign of success in the country.
Businessman Sudhir Ruparelia also extended his sincere appreciation to the President for his generosity to celebrate with Indians on their Diwali. He thanked the President for embracing different cultures and for creating a conducive environment for business and peace in the country.
Since the Indian communities return to Uganda in the 1980s and 1990s, the community re established and started working hard to build the country economically. Now over 27000 Indians living in Uganda with the peaceful life and both communities are socially and economically helping each other and working towards the development of the country.
Despite making up about 1% of Uganda’s population, Indians are estimated to contribute up to 65% of the country’s tax revenues. Sudhir Ruparelia, who is of Indian origin, is the richest man in Uganda with an estimated fortune of over $1 billion.
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