The Patidar Samaj in Uganda started a Covid- 19 quarantine center with 100 - bed facility. It was opened by the Indian High Commissioner and Under Secretary Seruwada MoH in the presence of Dr Okello, Director of of KCCA Health Department, National Quarantine Centre head Dr Richard Mugahi, and other invited dignitaries. The present and past BOT and management committee members were present during the function. This facility is under the Ministry of Health, Uganda.
History of Patidars in Uganda
Towards the end of 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century thousands of Gujaratis left India and migrated to British colonies in the African Great Lake region of Uganda, Kenya and Tanganyika. A significant number of these migrants came from the Patidar community of Charotar region of Gujarat. After reaching there, Patels started their own trade, commerce, industries and other businesses. Patels were the pioneers of cotton industry in Uganda and it became a backbone of country’s economy.
Systematic efforts were made in the year 1927 to organise Patidar community and the first Patidar meeting was held in Cinema hall, on 22nd January 1933. A plot for the Patidar Samaj was procured with the yearly fee of Shs. 400. G J Patel and C B Patel were the first trustees of the Samaj. A general meeting on 15th June 1934 decided to build the office of the Samaj (Currently Housing National Library and office Bloc of Samaj) and the building was declared open on 17th June 1936. Now the library building is listed under heritage monument in KCCA. (Kampala Capital City Authority)
The Samaj is indebted to Dr M M Patel OBE (Order of British Empire) for procuring the land for I M Patel Hostel (now Norvik Hospital). His Excellency the Governor Sir Andrew Cohen OBE officially declared open the facility on 23rd October 1954. This hostel, though controlled by Patidars, is open for students from other communities. Following the expulsion of Asians by Idi Amin in 1972, the Patidars left the country and the activities of the Samaj came to a halt. But the properties remain under Asian Custodian Board created by Idi Amin. In 1985 the current NRM government came to power and President Y K Museveni requested the the departed Asian to come back and repossess the property. The Patidars came back to Uganda and efforts began to repossess the Samaj premises from Asian custodian board and other illegal occupants. Efforts by late B K Patel, Kantibhai Patel, S M Patel and Prafulbhai R Patel made it possible to repossess the property in 1993.
Plot of land
The Patels had a plot at Lugogo (4-8 Naguru Link Road) before expulsion, but it was allocated to French school (Plot 22/24) by KCCA (then KCC). The Patels went to court against KCCA for the possession of the said plot and won the case. Since the plot was already developed by French School, Patels were allocated a plot on Naguru Link Road. At present there are 1,200 Patidars in Kampala and 500 in the interior parts of the country. The Patidars carry out various cultural and sports activities, including CRS activities. The Samaj annually celebrate Navaratri and Ganesh festival in a grand scale. They also conduct sports and other cultural activities in every two year under the East African Charotar Leva Patidar Federation in different cities of East Africa. Last festival was held in Nairobi Center in April 2019.
CSR Activities: CSR provide support to local people in education, medical and sports field by providing financial and other support. They also support government in noble causes and have given their National Library with minimal rent during Covid-19. They also supported the government by donating food and oxygen concentrator. They have contributed UGX 25 million in Covid-19 task force under the Prime Minister’s Office.
