UGANDA (Hansard, 28 November 1972)

§ Q2. . Mr. Robert Hughes
asked the Prime Minister if he will seek to make an official visit to Uganda.

§ The Prime Minister
No, Sir. Any matters for discussion with the Ugandan Government at this stage are dealt with through the High Commission offices in Kampala and London.

§ Mr. Hughes
Does the right hon. Gentleman recollect that President Amin recently said that he had a very great admiration for him and that if the right hon. Gentleman would visit Uganda a very high honour would be bestowed upon him? Does this not prove the old saying "It takes one to know one"?

§ The Prime Minister
I cannot choose either my admirers or my detractors. I think that the House knows full well my views on the position in Uganda.

§ Sir Robin Turton
Is my right hon. Friend aware of the considerable concern that Britons working in Uganda who have been driven out, losing all their belongings and all but £100 of their cash, are not receiving the advice on resettlement or the assistance that is being offered to the Asians?

§ The Prime Minister
I will certainly inquire into the point raised by my right hon. Friend. Our concern has been to see that the lives of Britons in Uganda should be protected and, if their property is to be taken over, that they should be properly compensated. We realise full well the difficulties on the latter point. I will certainly have full inquiries made into the matter raised by my right hon. Friend.

§ Mr. David Steel
Is the Prime Minister aware that when I was in Uganda some of the British expatriate community expressed concern to me about cutting-off of aid? Some of them are working on projects—research projects particularly—financed directly by our aid programme and, as soon as circumstances in Uganda allow, naturally desire that the aid programme should be resumed.

§ The Prime Minister
My right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary has said that the Government's views on these matters will be announced shortly. The greater part of them—about 800—are under contract to the Government, or to Makerere University, with the Government making up a portion of their salaries. We have never suggested that any of them should break their contracts.

§ Mr. Evelyn King
If there is no case for my right hon. Friend to visit Uganda, is there not a case for his entering into the closest possible communication with neighbouring African countries, preferably now? Does he accept that if any African country were to seek to expel 40,000 African Asians there could be—and I use the mildest language—considerable difficulties in this country?

§ The Prime Minister
Yes, I agree with my hon. Friend. We have been in the closest touch with the other African countries, as well as with the member countries of the Commonwealth and many other countries, ever since General Amin's expulsion order. I pay tribute to President Kenyatta and President Nyerere for the help they gave us at once in enabling United Kingdom passport holders, stateless persons and Indians to pass rapidly across their countries without let or hindrance to go to India and other countries and in some cases to come here.