Upon This Mountain

Book excerpt: In this coming-of-age story, Timothy Wangusa tells the tale of a young boy struggling to reconcile between his Christian beliefs and his village's ancient traditions. Upon this Mountain captures a time of profound religious change and colonialism in rural Uganda. Mwambu, a schoolboy living in eastern Uganda, is certain that if heaven is anywhere, it must be at the highest peak of their village's mountain – so he is shocked to discover that his father has never tried to reach it. While on a quest to climb to the top, Mwambu finds himself on a journey of self-realisation, confronted with the contradictions of his childhood. As the values of Christianity collide with the traditions of his ancestors, the path to adulthood becomes increasingly treacherous...