This book investigates the complex dynamics of social order and the role of friendship among itinerant townsmen in post-colonial Uganda. David Jacobson, drawing on extensive fieldwork and historical analysis, examines how transient populations navigated the challenges of establishing community and maintaining social structures in a rapidly changing urban landscape. The work explores the informal networks and personal relationships that provided stability and identity in the absence of formal institutions.

The book is likely to be regarded as a significant contribution to the study of African social history and urban sociology. Its focus on the micro-level dynamics of social order, particularly through the lens of personal relationships, offers a nuanced perspective on community formation in transitional societies. The work is expected to appeal to scholars and students interested in the social fabric of post-colonial Africa and the anthropological study of friendship.