'The day my father’s dreams for his family were shattered'

IMAGINE being given 90 days to leave your country.
That was the reality for nearly 50,000 Ugandan Asians who were expelled from the east African country 40 years ago by dictator Idi Amin.
Some 4,000 ended up at the Greenham RAF refugee camp, just outside Newbury.
One refugee who passed through the camp is now a Greenham parish councillor.
Pragna Hay was five at the time her family was forced to flee their home in Jinja, southern Uganda.
Mrs Hay and her colleagues at Greenham Parish Council have organised an exhibition to mark the 40th anniversary of the camp.
Flight to Greenham will run until December 12, at New Greenham Arts Centre, Greenham Business Park, and entry is free.
Mrs Hay is encouraging local people and schools to get involved in the exhibition, which will display stories, photos and items from the refugees, as well as artwork inspired by the camp.
She said: “I feel that this exhibition is important as it is a significant part of Greenham Common history.
“The 40th anniversary is possibly the last major anniversary in which we, the people expelled, are able to contribute, as many have now passed away.”
The exhibition’s official opening - an invitation only event - will be held tonight (Thurs) at 6.30pm.
Guest speakers will include the author of Idi Amin: Lion of Africa, Manzoor Moghal, and Newbury town councillor Kim Hodges, who was a member of the British Overseas Airways Corporation team in Uganda at the time of the evacuation.
Talking about the time she left her country, Mrs Hay said: “Fear and panic spread among the Asian community as soldiers were walking the streets carrying guns, causing violence and killing Asians for no apparent reason.
“My father was a shopkeeper who had worked hard to establish his business and to take care of his family.
“His dreams of improving life for his family had been shattered. “