Everybody, Always

brought to trial in his court. His office felt heavy as we spoke, as if it
were weighed down by the tremendous gravity of the moment. We both
knew what we were discussing. This would be Uganda’s first case in
which the death penalty was being sought against a witch doctor. It was
uncharted territory. It might work, and it might be a total failure. What
then?
The witch doctors had gripped the whole country with fear.
When we set out to bring the case against Kabi to trial, I have to
admit I was more than a little skeptical about whether we’d be able to
find a judge brave enough to take on this case. All the odds said we’d
strike out, but within a week this courageous judge agreed. We had a
courtroom and a trial date for Uganda’s first case against a witch doctor.
It turned out we weren’t the only ones who wanted a fight.
When the local witch doctors found out the judge had taken the case,
they began appearing at his home and did some pretty creepy things. He
could have backed out. Many would have. Instead, he surrounded his
home with guards who had plenty of guns. Great love often involves
tremendous risk. This amazing judge was willing to push back against the
darkness. He was turning into love.
The date of the trial was set several months out. Prior to the trial, I
made several trips back and forth to Uganda to meet with the witnesses,
the police, the investigators, and Charlie. The day finally came for the
trial to begin. Kabi arrived in chains, surrounded by a dozen well-armed
soldiers.
A few of us were staying across the street from the courthouse in a
thatched hut. Our country director, who we called “Two Bunk John,” had
arranged everything. We brought in a projector, a generator, and a screen
to give visual evidence of what happened. We had binders full of notes
and legal documents to explain what the laws of the country were. One
high court justice and several tribal leaders would be present. Uganda
still uses the British system in the judiciary, so everyone wears white
powdered wigs, black capes, and ruffled white shirts. It’s impressive—