Tegeera Study Track

Although set in the 1970s and 1980s, Christine's experience remains relatable to today’s university students in Uganda. The average Ugandan student is between 19 and 24 years old, and to be honest, those are the years when someone is likely to “kiss some frogs," for it is the stage in life when many young women feel most attractive and vulnerable.

Life After Amin: A Country in Crisis

Life in post-Amin Uganda was full of hardships and contradictions. The country was trying to recover from the trauma of violence, economic collapse, and social dislocation brought by Idi Amin’s regime.

Many people lost loved ones in the war that ousted Amin. Families were separated, with some going abroad for greener pastures, while others simply “disappeared.” The Ugandan middle class almost vanished, and many youths grew up with no clear mentors.

Christine’s story reflects this environment, especially how young women were navigating a society full of inequality, cultural confusion, and shifting values.

Power Imbalance and Cultural Confusion

One strong theme in the chapter is the power imbalance between Ugandans and foreigners. The “Bazungu,” as they are called in East Africa, often enjoy more privileges than Ugandans in their own country.

Christine struggles to find her place in a society that treats whiteness as superior. This was common in Kampala after Amin’s fall, where foreign aid workers and investors lived in posh areas like Muyenga — just like Peter did.

Even today, these power dynamics still exist, especially in business, employment, and even romantic relationships.

Christine is also torn between traditional Ugandan expectations and Western influences. She lacks proper guidance and role models.

This confusion is still faced by many Ugandan youths, especially in urban areas. Social media, global pop culture, and studying abroad make it hard for many to balance traditional values with modern trends.

There is pressure to “look modern” and “make it in life,” and like Christine, many young women find themselves making uncomfortable choices to survive or fit in.

Love, Comfort, and Survival

Christine depends on Peter for financial support and emotional comfort — a form of survival, not love.

This scenario is still common. Many students or young professionals in Uganda today enter relationships for financial stability, especially with older, wealthier partners.

Social media often reflects this, with memes and comments mocking men who cannot afford transport for their girlfriends. One common phrase is: “Omwavu tafumita ku lindazi” (a poor person does not poke a doughnut) — meaning, “You’re broke, so don’t expect anything from me.”

Finding Yourself in a Changing World

Christine’s self-discovery reminds me of Kirabo in Jennifer Makumbi’s The First Woman. While Christine travels abroad and struggles to fit in upon her return, Kirabo’s journey is about searching for her mother and learning about Buganda-style feminism (omwenkanonkano).

Both characters deal with complicated family ties and societal expectations before they can truly understand who they are. 

Baingana shows racial and economic inequality not through big drama, but through emotional tension and quiet reflection.

Unlike Makumbi or Okot p’Bitek, who use strong criticism and historical references, Baingana’s power lies in simple, emotional moments. She paints an honest picture of life in Uganda, where inequality silently shapes people’s relationships and decisions.

Storytelling Techniques That Stand Out

One technique I admire is Christine’s introspective and observant voice — it brings you close to her thoughts.

Baingana’s vivid descriptions and use of similes make the story more real. For example, Deo’s feet are described as “boats,” and Christine’s emotions as “a clean open hanky wandering in the wind.”

Her description of Kampala is powerful too:
 “The hot, dusty air blown up by the noisy, rushing traffic filled my head like thunder.” (p.93)

And in the taxi park:
“The conductor screamed for more, for more people, ordering us to move over, squash up; we all wanted to get home, didn’t we?” (p.94)

These images bring the setting to life.

A Quiet but Powerful Voice

Baingana writes in a calm but deep way that shows real Ugandan life, especially for young women. Her style is subtle, like someone telling you a secret, but her messages are strong.

She tells stories about family, faith, love, and growing up in a world full of changes. The emotions are honest, and the settings are recognisably Ugandan, yet universal.

So, Did Christine Make the Right Choices?

Christine made choices that many would call wrong — dating a white man for comfort or going abroad and ending up feeling lost.

But given the tough life she faced, those choices were her way of surviving and finding herself. They weren’t perfect, but they were real.

She did what she felt was right at that time, and that honesty is what makes her story powerful.

Tropical Fish left me deeply reflective. It shows how life is full of tough decisions, especially for young women. It does not offer happy endings, but it opens your eyes to the quiet struggles many people face.

Baingana’s story still resonates loudly with our Uganda today — and that is why it deserves to be read and discussed.

Excerpts from Doreen Baingana’s Tropical Fish (Chapter 6) are used here under fair use for educational and literary commentary. Source: Baingana, Doreen. Tropical Fish. Oshun Publishing, Cape Town, 2005.