By Spy Uganda
HE Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Friday hosted the Indian Community in Uganda to a dinner at State House Entebbe to celebrate Diwali, an Indian festival that symbolises the spiritual victory of light over darkness among Indian community faiths.
Museveni commended Indian Community members including tycoon Sudhir Ruparelia, Chairman Ruparelia Group of Companies and Nepalis Consul to Uganda, investor Azhar Jaffer, Managing Director Fairway Hotel among others,whom he said have transformed Uganda socially and economically through wealth creation.
“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.
Museveni 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.
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, 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. pic.twitter.com/GX6AlNijtY
— Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) November 4, 2022
“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.
Responding to the rumour on Ebola lockdown, President Museveni assured the Indian community 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.
Museveni also talked about citizenship saying there should not be issues on children whose parents are already citizens of Uganda. He said that even those who are not citizens but frequently come to Uganda for business should be given multiple/entry visas in the country.
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 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.
