It was all glitz, grace, and glittering lamps of fortune at State House Entebbe over the weekend as President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, flanked by First Lady Janet Kataaha Museveni, hosted Uganda’s Indian community to celebrate Diwali 2025 the Festival of Lights.
The event, filled with joy and color, was more than a cultural celebration; it was a powerful reflection on a journey of reconciliation between Uganda and a community once cast into exile.
Over five decades ago, then-President Idi Amin Dada infamously gave Uganda’s Asians 90 days to leave the country, accusing them of “milking Uganda dry.” More than 70,000 Indian families were expelled, their shops sealed, properties confiscated, and livelihoods shattered overnight. Uganda’s economy, which had thrived on their entrepreneurial spirit, plummeted into crisis. Yet, like a phoenix rising from ashes, the Indian community returned when Museveni’s government came to power in the mid-1980s, determined to rebuild the very nation that once turned its back on them.
Their comeback became one of the most remarkable stories of resilience in Uganda’s post-war recovery. From trade and banking to manufacturing and real estate, Indian families revitalized entire sectors, restoring confidence in an economy once broken. Among the many inspiring figures whose stories embody this resilience is the late Sherali Bandali Jaffer, founder of Fairway Hotel and Uganda’s first Member of Parliament for Kampala Central under Kabaka Yekka.
When Amin’s decree forced Jaffer out, he sought refuge in Canada and India, but exile did not harden his heart. Instead, when Ugandans fleeing Amin’s brutality arrived in Canada, Jaffer welcomed them — providing food, shelter, and help with legal documentation so they could rebuild their lives with dignity. His compassion, even in exile, made him a true Pan-African hero.
When peace returned under Museveni’s leadership, Jaffer and his family came back home, reclaiming their businesses and rebuilding Fairway Hotel into one of Kampala’s most respected hospitality landmarks. His legacy of unity and service lived on through his daughter, Senator Mobina Jaffer, who made history as the first African-born woman appointed to the Canadian Senate and later led a UN peace mission to Darfur, advocating for peace and women’s rights across Africa.
Recently honored at the Pan African Pyramid Global Awards as one of Africa’s unsung Pan-African heroes, Sherali Jaffer’s story stands as a symbol of forgiveness, resilience, and rebirth — the same values that filled the air at the State House Diwali celebration.
As the golden glow of Diwali lamps illuminated the lawns of State House, President Museveni hailed the Indian community for their immense contribution to Uganda’s growth and for restoring trust through hard work and integrity. “Those who once left in pain are now the builders of our shared prosperity,” he said, emphasizing that Uganda’s diversity remains one of its greatest strengths.
Business magnates such as Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia and other prominent members of the Indian-Ugandan community joined the celebration, exchanging toasts of friendship and unity. The evening’s mood was not just festive it was redemptive, marking how far Uganda has come from a dark chapter of division to a new era of partnership and inclusion.
From expulsion to excellence, from bitterness to brotherhood, the story of Uganda’s Indian community has come full circle. And as the fireworks of Diwali faded into the Entebbe night sky, one message shone brighter than ever that forgiveness can rebuild nations, and unity can turn history’s pain into light.
