Hoima

By the end of Monday, it became clear that we needed to divide and conquer.  The initial interview work was going well and relatively quickly.  What we gained in speed, though, we lacked in depth because we didn’t have access to any of the evidence against the accused persons prior to the interviews – only the barebones indictments and the prisoners’ description of the events in question.  We had, of course, endeavored to get access to the prosecution files in advance, but Uganda is still working to remedy inefficiencies in its systems.

So on Tuesday morning, two of our student interns, Paula Hernandez and Mena Gehart, split off from the group and went to the headquarters of the prosecution office, where they are interning this summer.  Three of the eight interviewing groups had finished their initial batch at Luzira Upper, and so they went directly to Murchison Bay, the adjoining medium security prison on the larger prison compound.  Five of the eight groups returned to Luzira Upper and continued their interviews from the day before and added in other prisoners who have decided to opt into the pilot program.  Pepperdine film professor Craig Detweiler, Producer Michelle Abnet, and I set off in one car, with Director Andy Reale, Cinematographer John Pope, and Camera Assistant Tyson Van Skiver in another.

I had been looking forward to this road trip for several months – I always enjoy returning to Henry’s home and reuniting with his family.  Four hours after we left Kampala, we arrived at Henry’s village.  Four hours after that, the interview with Henry was wrapping up.

Capturing Henry’s Perspective

I am, obviously, way too close to this story to have an objective view, but those in our group who are just learning of the gritty details of Henry’s wrongful incarceration and the resulting personal and spiritual battles that followed were quite moved.  The story is still playing out, but suffice it to say that his faith is strong and his future is increasingly promising.

After Henry’s interview, John got lots of B-roll shots in and around Henry’s home before we ventured out into the village area.

They filmed inside Henry’s old classroom, where he was with his fellow classmates when the events that set his saga into motion took place.  At dusk, the film crew captured a few precious moments of Henry and I walking and talking about how our lives have been impacted by knowing each other, and the tangible results for Uganda’s justice system his case sparked.

With Henry in Hoima

Back in Kampala, the number of prisoners interviewed by the eight groups climbed into the mid-100s, though the number of prosecution files we have now secured has just crept into double-digits.

Wednesday will be more prisoner interviews in Kampala, more file searching at the prosecution office, and more late night case summaries.  Meanwhile, the film crew, Henry, and I will be spending the day at the juvenile prison where Henry spent two years of his life languishing and praying for access to justice.  It will likely be an emotional day for all of us, but especially Henry.  Your prayers are coveted.