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Many African nations share histories replete with wars, insurrections, coups, civil strife, the fall of governments, and the rise of tyrannical leaders. Uganda is certainly one of them. The rise, reign, and fall of its third president, the brutally notorious Idi Amin, made headlines around the world, but violence and sudden death didn’t end for Ugandans with Amin’s exile. Etoori’s novel tells a story of what life was like in that tortured country when Milton Obote, the man who had actually preceded Amin, came back into power.
The author’s tale encompasses numerous individuals, yet it centers on three central characters. John is a young man who fails to live up to his father’s, and perhaps his own, expectations and winds up in the military. Robert is a man finding his way through one struggle after another and yet anchored by his religious faith. Sarah is the girl and woman they both come to know in very different ways. The story spans multiple years as it twists and turns its way through emotions and behaviors constantly buffeted by war, poverty, crime, friendship, love, and betrayal. Just when it appears the final obstacle has been overcome, fate has another card to play.
Etoori has fashioned a potentially compelling narrative. He illuminates both the times and his characters with a sense of reality and honesty that make the country and the people come to life. That sense of reality suffers, however, by too many unnecessary trips down backstory side streets and an overly didactic approach to exposition. This is odd, especially when you consider that the author introduces his tale with such lovely and emotionally rich verse.