A unique jamboree:BRITAIN’S EAST AFRICANS REKINDLE FOND MEMORIES OF LIFE BACK HOME
Her Excellency Nimisha Madhvani, Uganda's High Commissioner to the UK was the honoured guest at the East African Asians Organisation meeting. Photo Courtesy.
By SHAMLAL PURI in London, Senior Editor & Associate Publisher
Several hundred members of the East African Asian diaspora turned up in full force in the heart of London on Monday for a unique gathering that brought back plenty of nostalgia of their younger days growing up in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, renewed old friendships and forged new ones.
More than 200 members of the community attended. The guest list included well-known East African Asian names from the British national newspaper Sunday Times Rich List: Billionaires, decorated with British national honours, top professionals ranging from doctors to lawyers and even a Nairobi-born diaspora member of the British Army with 40 years of service – converged on the packed iconic Skyline at Tower Suites, a posh rooftop restaurant, facing the Tower of London and the River Thames on a warm British summer evening with velvet blue skies as a welcome mild cool wind fanned the trees on the ground several floors below.
Among the honoured guests were Her Excellency Nimisha Madhvani, Uganda’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Rt. Hon. Shailesh Vara, born in Uganda, a former Member of Parliament for Cambridgeshire North West between 2005 and 2024, and a former Cabinet Minister who served as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, led the proceedings at Monday’s event.
Distinguished guests from the who’s who of the East African Asian community included the media magnate Mr C B Patel, the veteran publisher of Britain’s leading diaspora newspapers, Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar, who lived and worked in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in his earlier years.
Others included Dr Vijay Patel, OBE, co-founder of Waymade Group and one of Britain’s most respected entrepreneurial philanthropists, who built a global healthcare enterprise with his brother, Dr Bhikhubhai Patel, spanning over 149 countries from a single pharmacy near London – an impressive record, especially given that the family, who lost their father while still young and were raised by their single mother, in comparative poverty. This is a real-life rags-to-riches story.
Mr Tony Matharu, Founder and Chairman of the Integrity International Group, an award-winning hotelier, philanthropist, and remarkable Guinness World Record Holder for his 2023 feat, when he was one of the four who played nearly 35 hours of continuous padel at a pop-up court near Tower Hill in the city of London, shattering the previous world record of longest marathon playing Padel.
Padel is a fast-paced racket sport that blends elements of tennis and squash. Played in doubles on an enclosed glass and wire-mesh court about a third the size of a tennis court, it uses underarm serves and allows players to rebound the ball off the walls, making it highly strategic.
Others included Nairobi-born Bali Brahmbhatt, a Gujarati music director and playback singer who mainly performs Bollywood songs. He is currently an RJ at Lyca Gold Radio London in the UK. Brahambhatt is also a hip-hop rapper and is popular for his songs. Also present were Nilesh Shah, Vee Bharkhanda, Kaushika Chavda, Pragna Hay, Nish Krishnamurthy of KLSA, distinguished lawyer Dinesh Raja, Raj Yadav from HSBC-UK, and Chartered Accountant J K Shah.
The MC for the event was Dr Manny Vasant, MBE.
Hosted by the Tanzanian-born career Chartered Accountant Harshad Kothari, FCCA, founder and inspiration behind the East African Asians: Past – Present – Next Gen. (EAA).
The organisation, still in its infancy, was founded to recognise, preserve, and celebrate the extraordinary journey and achievements of the East African Asian community in the United Kingdom and around the globe, where they have settled.
This week’s event featured a networking reception followed by a lively seminar on critical financial and family law issues, with many guests in attendance.
The impressive list of panellists included Rt. Hon Shailesh Vara, Tony Matharu, Nish Kurnanaithy of KLSA Chartered Accountants, Jonathan Kelly, a director and financial adviser at PK Partnership, and Shandip N Shah, a Fellow of the Society of Will Writers.
Mr Kothari said the seminar marked the third of its kind since EAA was established.
Speaking on behalf of the EAA Committee, Mr. Kothari said “The purpose of today’s event,” he said, “is threefold: to host the seminar on current and topical issues, bringing together interesting and engaged business people and professionals for networking in a feature of a Fireside Chat with prominent and successful East African Asians and to launch a Guide Book covering the topics discussed at the seminar together with other related areas, which we hope readers will interesting and relatable.”
He said the aim of hosting the event “is to promote the East African Asians organisation, which is still in its infancy and relies on the support of the Asians connected to East Africa in any way.”
“We hope you find today’s event both interesting and useful.”
In her message of congratulations, Her Excellency Nimisha Madhvani, Uganda’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, said, “I am reminded of how much the East African Asians Organisation has come to mean: not merely as a forum for networking but as a living testament to the enduring spirit, enterprise and unity of our community.”
She said the EAA Organisation was both unique and indispensable. “Founded with vision and dedication, it brings together East African Asians from every walk of life- creating space to engage with our shared past, a changing present, and a future full of possibilities meaningfully.”
Ms Nimisha Jayant Madhvani is a granddaughter of the founder of the renowned Madhvani Group of Companies. The recently released five-volume book, Uganda Asians: Then and Now, here and there. We contributed; We contribute by the late Dr Vali Jamal, profiles the Madhvani family in 46 pages. The five-volume book is published by Crownbird Publishers, the publishing arm of Adlink International (1989) Media Group Ltd, London.
Reflecting on Monday’s gathering, she said, “Events such as these are far more than social gatherings. They are celebrations of an extraordinary legacy – occasions for the younger generations to reconnect with their roots, pay tribute to the courage, resilience, and achievements of those who came before them, and carry forward the enduring values of enterprise, education, hard work, and community services that transformed lives across East Africa, and indeed, around the world.”
She added, “As a Ugandan – born and bred in that remarkable country – and as High Commissioner of the Republic of Uganda to the United Kingdom, I am delighted to share that Uganda today presents extraordinary opportunities across every sector of the economy.”
She revealed that Uganda is pursuing an ambitious strategy for tenfold economic growth, aiming to reach an economy of US$500 billion by 2040.
“This vision unlocks significant potential across agricultural, tourism, manufacturing technology, infrastructure, and services – and this Business Event is a timely invitation to rediscover Uganda and explore what it has to offer.”
She added: “For many East Africans, Uganda is not merely a destination – it is woven into the fabric of their family’s story. Visiting the country of their parents’ and grandparents’ heritage offers a chance to reconnect with their roots while engaging in dynamic investment and business opportunities emerging across Uganda and the wider East African region.”
The occasion also marked the launch of Shanti: Now and After 2026, a fascinating 116-page guide conceptualised by Mr Kothari and produced by the organisation’s media partners, Asian Business Publications.
The panellists, led by Rt Hon Shailesh Vara, discussed critical issues related to family law, Inheritance Tax, Charitable Giving, vital planning and the pitfalls.
Other subjects included what happens if someone is unexpectedly left out of a loved one’s will.
Other subjects covered in the seminar included issues arising from the Renters Rights Act of 2025 and what Landlords must do to comply with the law.
The critical questions of wills and disputes in estate administration, as well as disputes over existing wills, also featured in the discussions.
The Shanti Guide also features vital issues such as travel insurance and its importance, with a write-up by Harshad Kothari,
The question of Inheritance Tax in the UK generated considerable interest among the guests, and the guide discussed it in some detail with Shaileen Shah and Palak Tewary of Price Mann. The weighty issue of Probates in the UK was also well explained.
As our generation of the 1940s and 1950s considers the advantages and pitfalls of discretionary trusts, which specifically impact inheritance tax liability. The crucial point that comes out is planning, as they are still useful.
The guide noted that using a limited company to provide pensions and certain insurance arrangements can be a highly tax-efficient way to reward directors. Still, there are different rules on whether the payment is for a pension or for insurance. But even these have certain drawbacks.
Another interesting subject covered in the Guide was the advantages of relocating to Dubai, appropriately titled ‘Dubai Dreams’, which must have caught the attention of many guests, highlighting the benefits it brings.
However, the ongoing political problems in Iran arising from Donald Trump’s war in the Middle East will, without doubt, make any Britons planning to relocate to the Shangri-La of the Middle East desert postpone their plans until peace returns to the affected areas.
The information, as all other pertinent planning tips in the Guide, is, no doubt, handy for anyone interested in following it up, of course, with the added professional assistance.
Losing a loved one can be heartbreaking and traumatic, with many families getting lost on what to do next.
The Guide, without a doubt, touches on every aspect of life, including the dignified sending off of the departed. It outlines death and rituals across different faiths – Hindus, Christians, Catholics, Islam, Jainism and Sikhs.
It also outlines bereavement benefits, a subject many families do not touch until a professional advises them to.
A guest appearance by Tanzania-born motivational speaker Dr Paresh Rughani raised a lot of mirth and laughter with the way it was delivered. He went through the A to Z of life’s alphabet with the speed of a missile, leaving many guests chuckling.
The memorable event drew close after a lively networking session.
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