Everything Is Fine Here by Iryn Tushabe
The narrative of Everything Is Fine Here follows the coming-of-age journey of Aine Kamara, a Senior Six student in Uganda, as she navigates family tragedy, the complexities of queer identity within a conservative society, and the burgeoning realization of her own voice as a writer. The story is told through Aine’s perspective, moving between her strict boarding school, her village home in Bigodi, and the vibrant, often hidden queer spaces of Kampala. Anticipation and Arrivals at Pike Girls’ Boarding School The book opens with Aine waiting at the front steps of Pike Girls’ Boarding School in Fort Portal. She is anticipating the arrival of her older sister, Mbabazi, a distinguished alumna who has been invited to give the Careers Day commencement speech. Mbabazi has recently returned to Uganda after several years in Canada, where she completed a medical specialization in gynaecologic reproductive endocrinology and infertility. Aine, who has not seen her sister in over two years, feels a deep, obsessive love for her. When Mbabazi finally arrives, she is accompanied by a woman named Achen, whom she introduces as her “roommate”. Aine immediately perceives a “strange electricity” between the two women and recognizes that they are lovers, despite their attempt …