Ugandan Asians at Tonfanau 50th anniversary exhibition

That this House notes it is 50 years since President Idi Amin ordered the expulsion of 70,000 Asians from Uganda against a backdrop of rising anti-Indian sentiment, violence and killings in the country; further notes that 28,200 came to the UK in the autumn of 1972, around 1,500 of whom were accommodated for up to six months at the old army base at Tonfanau, Tywyn; recognises the welcome they were given by the local community who rallied around to provide the refugees with warm clothes, books, toys and activities; acknowledges the work involved in researching, collating material and organising the Ugandan Asians at Tonfanau special 50th Anniversary exhibition and event; pays tribute to the national programme British Ugandan Asians at 50, an initiative of The India Overseas Trust, to Praful Patel, the Trust’s Chair and the only surviving member of the 1972 Uganda Resettlement Board, and to all those taking part in the project, including project coordinator Warwick Hawkins and former Tonfanau residents Chandrika Joshi, Praful Purohit and Karim Meghji; and wishes all the best for the tree planting ceremony and plaque unveiling at Tonfanau and other former resettlement camps.