{UAH} 'Massively positive': Belgrave businesses respond to sculpture honouring Ugandan Asians
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'Massively positive': Belgrave businesses respond to sculpture honouring Ugandan Asians
'It's wonderful'
News that a sculpture is to be erected on Leicester's Belgrave Circle to commemorate Ugandan Asians who fled to the city 50 years ago has been welcomed as a "massively positive thing" by businesses in the area. Leicester City Council announced last week that there would be a series of events taking place to celebrate the milestone anniversary of people finding refuge in Leicester after Idi Amin's brutal expulsion from the country of British people of Asian origin, and citizens of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
In 1972, Idi Amin, who became the President of Uganda in 1971, ruled that Uganda's residents of Asian descent were damaging business opportunities for black Ugandans, and gave them just 90 days to leave. They had to leave their homes, businesses and most of their possessions behind, and faced beginning life afresh in a new country, often with very little money.
Some of the refugees who arrived in Leicester set up businesses in Belgrave Road - now also known as the Golden Mile - and their offspring have continued to run them. We asked business owners in the shopping destination to share their thoughts with us on the statue plan.
READ MOREStories of the Ugandan expulsion told by Leicester people 50 years on
Mahul Visram, owner of Ram Jewellers in Belgrave Road, and whose father is of Ugandan Asian descent, said: "It's an achievement. Ugandan Asians came to the country 50 years ago, and it's wonderful that the council is finally recognising us.
"Asians from Uganda came here and actually built up the Golden Mile when it was proposed to be demolished. It was going to be a highway initially. I think it's a good representation of what Asians have done in the city."
Sheena Faraz, owner of Bombay Looks, told LeicestershireLive: "Leicester has always been famous for multiculturalism. You have got people from all over the world, and so seeing that this sculpture is going to be built is very nice. I think it's going to have such a good impact on people in the area. I know there are so many businesses in Leicester that are owned by Ugandan Asians, especially on Belgrave Road."
The owner of Vishal Jewellers, Vishal Jogia, said: "I think it's going to be a massive, positive thing because we have many Ugandan Asians in Leicester. There should be something that can commemorate the hardships they went through. Imagine leaving your country with only £50, leaving all your goods behind, your memories behind, your house, I think it's a huge testament.
"Despite suffering hardships, they have bounced back over the years, their families have settled here in the UK. For all the hardships they faced, I think it's important to commemorate all the hard work they've done in the city. They have helped the economy, set up their own businesses, and worked in different ways. It will be really positive to have something like this."138266811598
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