Unsurprisingly, the expulsion of Uganda's Asian population in 1972 wasn't something I was taught about, or even made aware of, at school. So, when I came across Kololo Hill on Netgalley, I jumped at the chance to be one of the first to read this debut novel and learn a little about a true event I had, sadly, never even heard of before.

It begins with a rather horrific and shocking scene, which lets you know from the outset just how dangerous the situation has become for the Asian minority in Uganda. It's a very effective, if upsetting, start. The novel follows the experience a single, fictional, family but the upheaval and uncertainty they face was a reality for thousands of displaced people.

The story is told from multiple POVs: Asha (newly wed to Pran), Jaya (Pran's mother) and Vijay (Pran's brother). Being closer in age to Asha, I thought she would be my favourite character, but, while I loved her, it was Jaya that stole my heart! You cannot help but admire her resilience, strength and optimism, even through unimaginable grief and fear.

Her narrative provided insight into the experience of those who first emigrated to Uganda from India in the 1940s, travelling across the ocean on a blacked-out ship as the Second World War raged around them. Her prior experience of leaving everything she had ever known to travel to a country where she couldn't speak the language perhaps gave her an advantage over her children and Asha, who were born and raised in Uganda, when she was forced to do this all again.

I really liked that even in the midst of an event of this magnitude, playing out on the world stage, there was still smaller dramas within the family - Pran's dishonesty and scheming creates tension between him, Asha and Vijay, and Jaya has a long-held secret of her own. It made the whole thing feel incredibly realistic.

Another way in which Neema achieves this is through her incredibly vivid descriptions of every element of the world these characters inhabit, from the clothes the characters wear, to what they eat, the music they listen to, to the weather. It's a joy to read - less like you're reading, more like you're actually there.

While the novel is a depiction of a the plight of an Ugandan-Asian family following the expulsion order, Neema presents a nuanced view of the sociopolitical climate in Uganda, highlighting the contrast between the lives of the well-off Ugandan-Asians, who live up on the top of the hill in the large houses left by the British, and the black Ugandans, who are still physically and economically at the bottom. Once again, we are invited to consider the long shadow of British colonialism.

My only criticism is that I felt that the pacing was slightly off but it's not a big deal. I thought this was an excellent novel and I'm looking forward to reading whatever is next!

I remember this event, Asians being expelled from Uganda, the evil grinning face of Idi Amin on the news. The struggle of families to settle in a new country., greeted with prejudice and occasional sympathy.
The first half of this book takes place in Uganda and is concentrated on the erosion of privileges and the increasing tensions in the country. The characters of the family emerge and engage us, although it was overly long for me, somehow it was hard to identify with the people. When the remainder of the family finally meet up in England, they all feel estranged as a lie is gradually uncovered having a huge impact.
An uncomfortable story based on fact..

A beautifully written debut novel exploring the aftereffects of colonial rule, Idi Amin’s dictatorship and the expulsion of Asian Ugandans from their homeland in 1972.
The story is told from the perspectives of three of the main protagonists, allowing the reader an intimate insight into the lives of an Asian Ugandan family: Jaya, the older, sensitively aware matriarch, mother of Vijay and Pran; Vijay, the younger of the two brothers, and Asha, the new bride of Pran. Their stories are elegantly interwoven, each character offering their own viewpoints of the unfolding tensions and the ensuing dangers and fears.
Through the characters, Shah explores such wide-ranging themes as oppression, displacement, loss, family, loyalty, identity, and community. This is done with a real sense of compassion and sensitivity, but she does not shy away from the brutality that people experienced at the hands of Amin’s followers and soldiers.
This is a story in two parts. The first details the developing tensions and brutality surrounding the 90 days’ notice to leave the country. The second explores the family’s rupture and resettling in a new and very foreign lands.
Shah has a deftly descriptive hand and through her words, readers are drawn into the lives of the family and their friends: we see their world, smell their food, feel their joy, and experience their pain and understand their desire to hold on to their traditions and community. And while there is a real sense of authorial passion, there is a welcome absence of mawkish sentimentality: it is quite simply, beautifully written.
Many thanks to Netgalley and to the publishers for the ARC in return for an independent review.

Kololo Hill is one of those reads that leaves you with a profound lasting impact. Personally speaking, I was completely ignorant of Uganda's Asian exodus and the displacement that ensued before reading this book. It served as an eye opener for me and made me look into the country's dark history.
Neema Shah captures the painful and heartbreaking emotions of one Asian family brilliantly through different narratives. Faced with immense danger in the country that has always been their home and leaving everything they own, they flee Uganda for the United Kingdom.
Kololo Hill is hard hitting and at times, extremely difficult to read. Shah manages to grip the reader and immerse them into this journey from the beginning till the very end.

Having grown up in a village close to north London where many Ugandan Asian families were placed after arriving at Heathrow, I was intrigued by the premise of this book. I enjoyed the first part set in Uganda, particularly the descriptions of the places and the food. I also liked the tension that ratcheted up before the family’s departure.
However I was disappointed with the second part after they had arrived in England. I felt it glossed over many difficulties that both the Asian and the white communities had in terms of communication, culture, integration etc. I particularly remember being in the greengrocers and an elderly Asian lady (with whom I was fascinated to look at her beautiful, colourful sari covered by a heavy coat but still wearing flip flops with socks) having great difficulty finding any vegetables that looked familiar. I think we take for granted that we can get African/Asian vegetables and spices easily now - but certainly not in the early ‘70s. So, going back to the book, it felt as though all these issues/problems had not been observed and in fact Jaya, the mother in law seemed to take it all in her stride, which given she’d only just lost her husband seemed a little unrealistic.
I know in many traditional Asian families that once a girl is married she joins the husband’s family but I felt the character of Ashya had been described as being quite independent and forward thinking, non submissive etc. Therefore I felt that the lack of any reference to her brothers, mother and father during the last three months of their time in Uganda was a big hole in the story. Surely Ashya would have had some contact with her family, who were in the same situation as her husband’s family?
I’m pleased I read this book but for the reasons given above can only give it three stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I find it very interesting that two books about the exile of Ugandan Asians should be published at almost the same time, given it's a topic that doesn't seem to have been explored much to this point. Zayyan's novel takes both a contemporary and historical view of the expulsion, whereas Shah only looks at the events surrounding the early 1970s. However, both are powerfully written. Shah particularly examines what the events meant for relationships within the family and looks in more depth at the implications of how Black and Asian Ugandans worked (or did not work) together in their society, a fact which led to Amin's policies. Shah also examines the welcome that Ugandan Asians were given in Britain, for better or for worse. These kinds of histories are needed, and I hope many people read them.

Kololo Hill by Neema Shah is the debut Asian Ugandan literature set in 1970's Uganda that will captivate you with its human story of love, loss, and desperation of families who were thrown out of their homes and country. This was such a familiar story, yet so different and important to be read in these times of division, hatred, and otherisms. It is very relevant to the times we live as conversations of race, inequality, oppression, power, and devastation are at the forefront of our lives.

Neema Shah does a fantastic job of bringing us realistic life-like characters whose journeys we follow through the good, the hard, and the ugly to finally get to a place where you can stand proud and tall and not take the abuse anymore. The story is focused on Jaya and her family. Idi Amin and his decree of expulsion of the Asian Ugandan minorities to leave the country within the 90-day mark. They were ordered to flee the country leaving all of their hard work, money, life, and legacy behind. With only Britain to move to and neither of the countries willing to welcome them several families were separated and stranded in different countries. The dictatorship rocked the country and brought shock waves into the lives of ordinary Ugandan and Asian people alike. I read last month, We Are All Birds Of Uganda which tells us a similar story of people having to flee their homes and being stuck in countries where they didn't belong and having to start their life from scratch all the while going through the trauma they had to endure during the oppressive regime of Idi Amin.

Overall, this is a story that sheds light on the expulsion of Asian Ugandans during Idi Amin's oppressive regime. This is a lesser-known history and I am glad I came to know about this in Hafsa Zayyan's equally moving story before reading this. If you love cultural fiction and historical fiction, that tells us family stories of struggle, resilience, and survival, definitely pick this one up. I really enjoyed this story and I gave it 4 stars. It was an emotional and impactful read. I have to say this was a strong debut and I am looking forward to reading more of Neema Shah's works in the future.

An absolutely fascinating historical fiction novel. I do remember this news when i was a child. Inspired by true stories, including her own family, Neema Shah tells of the Asian population in Uganda who were forced to leave with 90 days notice by Idi Amin. Many had been born there and never lived anywhere else. Successful, hard working business owners with privileged lifestyles literally had to escape with what they could fit in a suitcase. Written beautifully is the contrast between hot, sultry Uganda to damp winter in the UK in the 70's. Some wonderful characters and a great story.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the ARe-copy in exchange for this honest review.
This is a wonderful debut novel skillfully weaving the beauty of the stories of identity, heritage, belonging and community with the tragic events of the Asian expulsion from Uganda and the ugliness of all it entailed.
Shah very quickly makes you feel deeply invested in the characters and disperses cultural differences with the intrinsic parts of human nature that helps us to relate to the truly shocking turn their lives had to take. A beautiful, heartbreaking novel with an important story that needs to be told so we don't forget and become entrapped in societal ignorance.

“Kololo Hill” by Neema Shah is the story of a family of Ugandan Asians expelled from their country by the Idi Amin regime. Their struggles in Uganda, perilous journey to safety and efforts to adapt to their new home are the opportunity for the author to explore themes of home and belonging, family ties, as well as love, trust and responsibility. We hear the story from three different narrators – Asha, a young woman, just married to Pram, who is fighting to save the family business from collapse, her mother-in-law, Jaya, an older woman who already knows how it is to start from scratch in a new place, and Vijay, her younger son. Their journey will take them from beautiful yet dangerous Kampala, where people disappear at night and their wealth is stolen from them, to wet and chilly but safe London, where they experience different kinds of prejudice as well as people’s kindness and compassion.

There is so much richness in this book – smells and tastes of Uganda (oh, all this food, I was constantly hungry reading it!), there is music, clothes and noises, the constant hum of other people and gunshots in the night. All this is a stark contrast against the darkness and blandness of London with its unknown smells and noises. The evocative language takes the reader straight into the story, making them to care and sympathise with the characters. We see them thrown into the unknown, each of them reacting differently to the tragedies they face. I loved how the author wrote about the personal struggles Jaya and her family go through – writing about starting again from the beginning, searching for home and place to belong, adjusting to the new normal and missing the familiar old. There are always thoughts about what was left behind, but some adapt better than others – I loved the positivity that shone from this novel.

“Kololo Hill” is such an amazing debut novel, it has so much to offer and there is a lot to think about – not only the story of the expulsion from Uganda, but also musings about perseverance, belonging and the meaning of home. A great novel, worth reading and discussing.

Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a free copy of this book.

I so much loved this story that deals with racism in Uganda during the 1970s when Asians had just 90 days to leave the country was fantastic.

A beautifully written book. I loved the characters and I went on the journey with them whilst they built a new life after leaving Uganda.

Oh wow what a debut novel.

Kololo Hill follows the story of one family from prosperity in pre Idi Amin Uganda, through the expulsion of the Asian communities by him in the 1970's to the struggle to create new lives in the UK.

Though horror, sorrow, love, dependency, secrets and self discovery we follow the family as their comfortable lives disappear in a country that they love. The author beautifully brings to life the sights, sounds and food of the East African Asian community though out the story and the beauty of a lost Uganda.

A book set around an atrocity that many of us know very little about.

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for giving me the privilege of a free copy of this novel in return for an unbiased review.

Kololo Hill was a residential area in Kampala occupied by wealthy Asians who migrated to Uganda in the mid 20th century and established successful businesses. Regrettably this visible wealth was to be their downfall .When Idi Amin came to power it was not long before he issued a mandate that all 90,000 Asians leave Uganda within 90 days. Furthermore they had to leave everything behind - stores, plantations factories and homes. Although this is fiction, Shah never having lived in Uganda' her research has ensured she presents the reader with a very real representation of just how traumatic and terrifying this period must have been for the Asian community. So full of difficulties. Just getting out safely was one. Finding a country that would take you in was another. Keeping your family together was a third. All these issues are faced by the characters in this novel and, through their story, Shah shines a light on this fascinating and often overlooked period of history.

Historical fiction isn't usually my go-to, but Neema Shah blends fact and fiction so beautifully, offering brilliant insight into the experience of Asians in Uganda at the time, whilst also providing an unputdownable story filled with complicated family dynamics and relationships. Beautifully written, this novel is equal parts heartbreaking and hopeful and Neema Shah is definitely one to watch.

A deep insight into the problems and issues faced by families caught up in situations outside their control. They are the forgotten fallout of political situations resulting in their displacement and resettlement in a new country away from their culture and everything they hold dear. An excellent read and very thought provoking.

C/W: Violence, attempted rape, sexual assault, death, implied suicide, anti-Black language

"Kololo Hill" follows Asha, Pran and Pran's family who are forced to flee Uganda under a decree made by Idi Amin. This was quite an honest and familiar look at a South Asian family who have origins in India, grow up in Uganda and finally flee to Britain. I really did enjoy the commentary surrounding the fact that Pran and his family don't know any other home apart from Uganda and are forced to leave it. Further emphasising that for many diasporas although they know of their country of origin, the country of their birth is what they consider to be "home".

I appreciate how "Kololo Hill" frames relationships between South Asians and Ugandans at the time without glamorising the relationships (which I did appreciate).

I do have to highlight that while I appreciate this representation, the book is inspired somewhat by the author's parents who grew up in Kenya and Tanzania, although it is well-researched. The book does provide a list of additional non-fiction resources should anyone want to know more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillian for allowing me to read an e-arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed.the journey this book took me on - quite harrowing at times but a real insight into a piece of (relatively recent) history I knew little about. The book follows the lives of 4 main characters - Jaya, her adult sons Pran and Vijay, and Pran's wife Asha. As the story unfolds and life events take their toll on them and their loved ones, it is interesting to see how they change and become stronger. The ending.was initially a bit of a disappointment, but in retrospect I think it was probably the right way to end and leaves it open to the reader as to what might then happen a year or two down the line. An interesting,, enjoyable and informative read; thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author for my arc.

I picked up Kololo Hill after reading We Are All Birds of Uganda by Hafsa Zayyan. Both books are about the expulsion of Asians from Uganda in the 1970s, but whereas We Are All Birds of Uganda tells the story through characters looking back, Neema Shah tells her story through characters who are living in the moment.

Shah writes Kololo Hill through multiple perspectives, but all are part of Asha and Pran’s family, which the story centres around. Asha and Pran are a young married couple, and when they are forced to leave Uganda, they are forced to leave behind Pran’s family business as well.

This is the reason the ruler of Uganda gives for expelling Asians: the inequality between them and the black Ugandans. This is, of course, as result of colonialism. Neema Shah does a good job of presenting the complicated reality of the time. She doesn’t paint this as a black and white situation at all. She humanises what was, and to a degree still is, a difficult political situation.

Asha is by far my favourite character. She represents the generation of women who were beginning to find their independence in the 70s. She worked before marrying Pran, and throughout the novel, we sense her desire to be more than a wife and mother. Asha has a mind of her own, and this is in contrast to Jaya, Pran’s mother, who openly admits early in the novel that she made herself pliable to her husband’s needs and life. The two women represent different generations of women, and I enjoyed that juxtaposition.

Shah also draws comparisons between how the black Ugandans feel about Asians in their country, and how some white British people felt about the Asians entering Britain. Both groups perceive themselves to be losing something through the Asians’ presence. Inequality, regardless of the country, only breeds discontent and division between people.

My only small criticism of Kololo Hill is that Shah could have explored some of the emotional moments in the text more. If the reader were given a deeper look into a character’s thoughts and feelings, when certain momentous events happened, it would have deepened the connection we feel to the characters. But this is a small niggle in what otherwise is a beautiful, atmospheric book.

Shah’s writing reminds me a little of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. I think she’s a writer with great potential to get better and better over time. I really enjoyed Kololo Hill, and I’ll be following her work.

Enjoyable and evocative novel about ordinary people facing huge upheavals in every aspect of their lives. Under the ruthless rule of Idi Amin, Ugandan Asians are forced to leave everything they own, love and have worked for and start a new life in the UK where they have safety but face constant racism. Some vivid descriptions and subtle characterization. I can see this story as a good TV drama. An assured debut.