Catalogue description Uganda Resettlement Board: Minutes and Papers

On 4 August 1972 President Amin decreed the expulsion of United Kingdom passport-holders from Uganda within 90 days. The Uganda Resettlement Board was appointed by the Home Secretary to assist United Kingdom passport-holders and their dependants who were ordinarily resident in Uganda on that date and the children of any such persons born since then.

The board's duties and powers were set out in a Trust Deed made between the Home Secretary, members of the board and the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury. The Chairman was Sir Charles Cunningham, KCB, KBE, CVO; he and the first members of the board were appointed on 23 August 1972. The board's first meeting was held on 30 August 1972.

The board's Interim Report (Cmnd.5296) was published in May 1973, and its Final Report (Cmnd.5594) in April 1974.

The reception of expelled persons in the United Kingdom was undertaken with the help of voluntary organisations and local authorities. Temporary accommodation was provided, mainly in resettlement centres, for those who wished to go to areas where they were unlikely to face acute problems. Expelled persons were discouraged from going to areas where services were under particular stress and where houses were unlikely to be available. Problems were resolved mainly by local authorities and voluntary organisations who were used to meeting similar needs of the indigenous population.