There were also the cultural differences, the hardship, and the hostility that they faced on a daily basis. Amidst the brutalities of his new regime, he forcibly removed the entrepreneurial Indian minority from Uganda. This last threat is where the novel begins, when Asha, a new bride, unwittingly stumbles across the terrifying evidence of just how far Amin’s forces will go to enforce their power in Uganda.

Motichand and Jaya arrived in Uganda from India many years ago, and the beautiful green hilltops of Kololo Hill are very much their home now, they’ve made a decent life for themselves and have been very happy. I enjoyed reading this book in as much as it filled the gap in my knowledge of how this affected these victims and how they instantly applied their industry to forging new lives for themselves in a strange country that enjoyed only a temperate climate. Here, and throughout the novel, there is a beautiful symmetry of theme, reflected in both its macro and micro worlds. Neema Shah’s parents and grandparents left India to make their homes in East Africa and later in London, where Neema was born and lives.The story hinges upon a significant moment in Ugandan history when in 1971 an officer named Idi Amin became dictator after a military coup. Some characters cope better than others, underlining both the generational and psychological differences which exist within individuals. The question of how do you protect your family and get to safety when all routes are closed off to you? Their journey is evoked by language, culture shock and all the challenges of moving to another country. December has been with the family since Motichand and Jaya arrived from India, and he means a lot to the family, particularly Jaya, and he too, is one of the minority’s who are in danger at the hands of Idi Amin’s regime.

I appreciate the effort the author takes to present a balanced perspective, the class divide and rift between Asians and Ugandans further exacerbated by the growing disparity between the rich and poor. The story follows the lives of a Ugandan Indian family, Motichand and his wife Jaya, their two sons, Pran and Vijay and Asha, Pran’s wife, and also their houseboy December an Acholi Ugandan, whose tribe was also being hunted by Idi Amin. The transition between the two halves of the novel is not only in terms of location and people but also in terms of the emotions running underneath, and she depicts this with clarity and ease. However, this is exactly what our family in 'Kololo Hill' has to face, when they are uprooted and thrown out of Uganda, having to start a new life with nothing, leaving behind a successful business, a beautiful home, and friends of many years standing, thanks to the despot Idi Amin. The love story element that flickers between Asha and Vijay is fine, but standard fare after the much more emotionally charged scenes unfolding in the Ugandan section.

The writing is elegant and poignant, capturing the emotional turmoil and resilience of the characters. the family moves from Kampala to London and the only differences Jaya notices are the weather and the supermarkets. There were no supporting roles, they were all equal even though they were in-fact facing their own individual journeys.