At the summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in Kampala, President Yoweri Museveni praised the noteworthy contributions made by individuals returning from India to the economic development of his country.
Highlighting their remarkable achievements, President Museveni stated, "I was asking people how many factories have been built by our Indian returnees. They told me about the 900 factories that they had built since they came back."
Contemplating Uganda's history, especially the expulsion of Asians, primarily Indian Ugandans, during the era of Idi Amin's rule, President Museveni acknowledged the unfortunate errors made by the government.
He stated, "NAM countries also sometimes make mistakes like here in Uganda." He recounted the adverse consequences of Amin's actions, including the economic impact on his country. India during Amin's time had cut ties with his regime due to his actions.
President Museveni emphasised the adverse impact of Amin's decisions on the country's economy, noting, "You had a leader of a NAM country undermining his own economy." The expelled individuals were actively involved in various sectors, including sugar, hotels, and steel production.
Expressing regret, the president highlighted the lost opportunities for growth and development during that challenging period. President Museveni then detailed the measures undertaken by the Ugandan government to address and rectify past injustices.
He explained, "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."