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UK marks 50 years of arrival of Ugandan Asians expelled by Idi Amin Dada

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The United Kingdom, on Thursday, marked the 50th-year anniversary of the expulsion of Asians from Uganda by ‘bloodthirsty’ dictator, Idi Amin Dada.

On August 4, 1972, Idi Amin who prided himself as the “Conquerer of the British Empire,” had given thousands of South Asians living in Uganda 90 days to leave the country or face being rounded up into concentration camps.

He carried out his threats when he expelled more than 27,000 ethnic Indian and Pakistani holders of UK passports who managed to make their way to the English Midlands city of Leicester.

According to recorded history of the incident, many of those who arrived had been “stripped of everything they had and were penniless after Idi Amin took their wealth in a purported drive to give Uganda back to ethnic Ugandans.

“Overcoming English racism and weather, the refugees rebuilt their lives from scratch, as chronicled in a new exhibition marking the anniversary of Idi Amin’s incendiary decree of August 4, 1972,” Nisha Popat, a curator at the Leicester Museum where an exhibition was held to mark the anniversary said.

After the exhibition at the Leicester Museum, there will be three stage plays at the Leicester Curve Theatre to showcase the story of the Ugandan South Asian exodus to Leicester, according to the Curve chief executive, Chris Stafford.

Even the family of British Home Secretary, Priti Patel who is responsible for refugee policy, were Gujarati Indians and part of those who fled Uganda to Britain in the 1960s when anti-Asian prejudice was already rife.

Before Idi Amin’s eight years reign of terror was brought to an abrupt end through a coup in 1979, more than 300,000 people including foreigners were reportedly slaughtered including close allies, opposition figures and even his wives.

Culture

Kenyans mourn passing of prominent TV star, Rita Tinina

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Kenyans, especially those within the country’s media space, have been thrown into mourning following the sudden death of veteran television journalist, Rita Tinina, who was found dead at her home in the capital, Nairobi, on Sunday.

According to a preliminary police report filed at Kileleshwa Police Station shortly after she was found unconscious in her house, the NTV broadcaster suffered from a bout of epilepsy.

The report which quoted the deceased’s sister, Helen Silau Njaga, said that the journalist was epileptic and had been suffering severe fever in the past week before succumbing to the cold hands of death.

Njaga reportedly told the police that the 46-years-old journalist was found unconscious on her bed inside her bedroom at her Kileleshwa home.

Njaga said when she was informed of the situation, she rushed to her sister’s home and when she arrived, she found Tinina unresponsive and called for medical assistance, adding that paramedics confirmed that the body was already lifeless upon arrival.

“On behalf of Yiapan’s family, this has come as a shock to us. We are really trying to digest and at the moment we just request for the privacy to be accorded to the family. More information will come in the letter,” Njaga told the press shortly after her sister’s body was transferred to a funeral home by the police.

The news of the journalists demise has sent the Kenyan media industry into mourning with a plethora of accolades hailing her as a trailblazing media personality.

Her colleagues at NTV said she was expected to be on duty on Sunday but failed to show up, prompting a wellness check in her house where she was found unconscious.

Prominent among those who poured accolades on the long-serving TV journalist known for her captivating news features, was President William Ruto who took to his official X account to eulogise her.

“My sincere condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Rita Tinina – a pioneer and a trailblazer in TV journalism. Rest In Peace, Rita,” he wrote.

Former President Raila Odinga also posted his condolences on X:

“Her passing leaves a void in the industry, yet her legacy of storytelling and integrity will endure,” he said.

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Diamond Platnumz once called off wedding few days to the big day, sister claims

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A sister to Tanzanian Bongo Flava star, Nasibu Abdul Juma Issack, otherwise known as Diamond Platnumz, has revealed that he actually called off a wedding days before the ceremony was set to take place after realising he was not ready for a commitment at the time.

Esma Platnumz revealed in an interview with Wasafi FM that the “Yatapita” crooner, after calling off the wedding, advised his then fiancée who she identified as Sophia, to put an end to the wedding plans as he was not ready to go ahead with the wedding.

Esma said the two families had already reached an agreement for the marriage and all preparations were well under way when her brother decided to call it off.

Esma revealed that just when the wedding was about to be announced, the MTV European Music Awards (EMAs) winner “abruptly changed his mind, citing concerns about rushing into marriage and wanting to make the decision with more certainty,” she said.

During the interview, Esma was asked if their family and friends had ever sat down and asked the singer about his marriage plans after he broke up with Kenyan singer Tanasha and engaged in another dramatic relationship with singer Zuchu.

In reply, Esma said:

“We’ve involved him several times, but I believe everything happens as God’s plan. God does his things whenever he wants,” she said.

“We can force him to get married but he’s not genuinely ready for it. He can get married to someone’s daughter and abandon her.

“We tried to persuade Diamond to get married to Sophia. Her family had already received a dowry and we were planning to visit her home and for formal arrangements.

Diamond himself had even ordered matching outfits from Turkey for the wedding with his fiancé. However, he informed us that he has decided to stop the proceedings. He told her to stop the process because he wasn’t ready for such a commitment,” Esma revealed.

She stated that Diamond’s mother, Sanura Kasimu, had once intervened in an attempt to persuade and arrange a marriage for him but the singer insisted that he was not ready for marriage and everything related to it.

Though he has four children from different women, Diamond, unarguably Eastern Afruca’s biggest music artiste, has been in and out of relationships with celebrity women including Ugandan socialite, musician and actress, Zarinah Hassan, popularly known as Zari the Boss Lady.

The “Jeje” hitmaker has also been linked to fashionista Hamisa Mobetto, as well as Kenyan model and singer, Tanasha Donna.

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