Home born of Asian expulsion still shelters Busoga’s elderly
The Mpumudde Home for the Elderly in Jinja, Uganda, continues to provide shelter for vulnerable individuals five decades after its founding. The institution was established in 1973 to support those left destitute following the expulsion of Asians from Uganda.
Why it matters
It highlights the long-term humanitarian legacy of historical political upheavals and the ongoing need for social safety nets in post-colonial contexts.
Some of the elderly men found at Mpumudde Home for the Elderly in Jinja City. PHOTO | TAUSI NAKATO..
When Idi Amin expelled Asians from Uganda more than five decades ago, thousands of workers who depended on Asian-owned businesses suddenly foWund themselves without jobs, homes and means of survival. Some had travelled from different parts of Uganda and neighbouring countries to work in Jinja’s industries.
When their employers left, many were stranded, with some reportedly dying on the streets. It was against this backdrop that the Jinja Destitute Home, also known as the Mpumudde Home for the Elderly and People Living with Disabilities, was established in 1973 at the Swami Temple on Oboja Road in Jinja Town to care for elderly, displaced and vulnerable people.
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