British Ugandan Asians at 50
Highlighting the experience of British Ugandan Asians in and after 1972, and the many volunteers who helped them.
Press Releases
Welcome to British Ugandan Asians at 50! This website is currently in development and new material is being added all the time.
The project is well underway. We have conducted filmed interviews with individuals who were residents, volunteers or paid staff at three Uganda Resettlement Board camps in 1972: Tonfanau in Wales, Stradishall in Suffolk, and Heathfield in Devon. Edited versions of the Tonfanau and Stradishall interviews are already accessible on this site, and can also be seen on our YouTube channel ; the Heathfield videos will follow shortly.
We have also put together a Touring Exhibition featuring period photographs, press clippings and memorabilia relating to the Expulsion and resettlement. This will open at the Curve Theatre, Leicester, on 11 July, and will then go to the National Archives in West London; local venues in Suffolk, Devon and Wales; Brent in North London; then on to other venues in early 2023. We have three panel discussions coming up, starting on 20 June at the Brunei Gallery at the School of Oriental and African Studies. See our Events page for more details of the exhibition and events. All the interviews and materials will be archived at the Living Refugee Archive, so that they are permanently accessible to the public without charge.
Were you or a family member among those expelled in 1972? Were you a resident or volunteer at one of the camps? Do you have old photographs or memorabilia that you would like to share? We would love to hear your story, and we may be able to feature it on this site. Just email us at mystory@bua50.org.
You can read a background note on the project here.
Press release here.
General enquiries: enquiries@bua50.org
Media enquiries: mediaenq@bua50.org
If you have a story to share: mystory@bua50.org
Social Media
We are looking for memorabilia for the Tonfanau exhibition
Fifty years ago in late 1972, Idi Amin expelled 70,000 Asian people from Uganda. 28,200 came to Britain and several hundred of these were accommodated for 6 months in the old army base at Tonfanau near Tywyn, Meirionnydd. Through its ‘British Ugandan Asians at 50’ project, funded by the National Lottery, the India Overseas Trust has interviewed a number of people who volunteered at that camp, or were themselves residents there.
We are very keen to find photographs taken at the time, and other memorabilia such as letters, posters, leaflets, items from Uganda etc.
All these will go on this website and will also be permanently archived at the Living Refugee Archive, so that students and the general public can access them for free. So, please also get in touch if you have photos taken in 1972 or any other memorabilia. You should photograph items and email to: mystory@bua50.org. Old photographs should be scanned and emailed.