Honiton: Special exhibition at Thelma Hulbert to mark 50th Anniversary of the Ugandan Expulsion

The Thelma Hulbert Gallery will host a touring exhibition to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Ugandan Expulsion.

In 1972, Ugandan President Idi Amin ordered the country's Pakistani and Indian population to leave. They were given only 90 days before they were expelled from Uganda.

Many of the displaced people were British citizens. Consequently, 28,000 people emigrated to the UK and settled permanently.

The people arriving from Uganda were met with an enormous volunteer response as people rallied around to help. A total of 63 voluntary organisations were established to support the displaced people.

Edward Heath, the Prime Minster at the time, established the Uganda Resettlement Board, which helped find accommodation and assist the expellees find permanent homes, jobs and school places.

16 reception and resettlement camps were established, one of which was at Healthpark in Honiton. This camp is going to be a focus for the exhibition.

In the subsequent 50 years, British Indians and Pakistanis have gone onto make a disproportionate impact on economic and social life in this country.

To mark the anniversary, British Ugandans at 50, which is a National Lottery funded project, have recorded oral histories to preserve the memories and stories of whose people who were excelled from Uganda, as well as those who volunteered in the reception and resettlement camps.

The events of 1972 will be movingly retold through period photographs, press clippings, oral history footage and other memorabilia.

If you were a volunteer at a camp or a resident and you would like to share your story, please contact [email protected] and copy [email protected].

 The exhibition opens at Thelma Hulbert on October 15 and runs to the 29 October.

On the on 29 October there will be a celebration and camp reunion, including the unveiling of ceremonial plaque and tree planting. This will take place at The Beehive, Honiton.

You can find out more information here.