Khatun Makani reflects on her life in Fort Portal, Uganda, where she was born in 1945 to parents of Indian and Iranian origins. Her father ran a small shop that supported their large family of 11 surviving children, while her mother managed cooking and additional income through catering. Khatun left school at 14 to help in the shop, which primarily served African customers.

She fondly recalls a simple, self-sufficient life with a large garden and community connections through the Ismaili Jamatkhana. Despite the ease of domestic help, safety was a concern, as robberies were common. She notes her father’s strong relationships with the local community and her mother’s influence on her cooking skills. Khatun describes life in Uganda as easy but acknowledges its challenges, particularly during the expulsion of Asians under Idi Amin.