Oral History Interview with Ronikali Merali
This interview was conducted as part of SAADA's ACFP 20/21. The interviewee discussed his early life in Uganda, his experience of finding out about and living through Idi Amin's expulsion of Asians from Uganda, his efforts to find a new home and departing Uganda, and his early years of resettlement in Greenville, South Carolina.
Ronikali Merali's certificate of Naturalization to the US
The process of gaining citizenship for Ugandan parolees in the US was long because they were not technically refugees, but were parolees, which did not grant them the same path to citizenship as refugees. This is Ronikali's certificate of naturalization to the US, and feature of a photo of him in 1984 at the age of 34.
Ronikali Merali's Property Compensation Letter
In Idi Amin's expulsion of Asians from Uganda, they were not permitted to take much money with them, nor keep ownership of their property. The UNHCR worked for years to get compensation for lost property by Uganda refugees. This letter was sent to Ronikali's father for the store he lost to Idi Amin's expulsion. Ronikali said he did not take the money offered to him.
Ronikali Merali Declaration of Business
This was the declaration Ronikali filled out when he was forced to leave his business behind in Uganda. The form says it is for "non-citizens" though Ronikali was a citizen of Uganda, who was stripped of his passport and thus effectively became stateless.
