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I have always wanted to be a journalist ever since I was a child. I wanted to hold those in power accountable and expose their lies. To be the guardian of democracy. But my profession isn't that heroic. At least not in the Netherlands, where there is a functioning democracy and a rule of law. With us, freedom of the press is so self-evident that you hardly wonder why it is so important. That is why I want to go to the countries where journalists make a difference. Those are countries where power cannot be controlled. There, journalists are a crowbar against dictatorship and injustice. Where they fight for the truth, their literary value is established. In those countries, they are sometimes in great danger
because they are usually on their own. Hello. Like in Uganda, where no one helps you if the truth does not suit those in power. It is summer in Amsterdam. Images have been haunting my mind for a few days now. They were made by a camera journalist from Uganda. His name is Natgy Williams and his film is a cry for help. The images show a country I did not know. These are images of extreme police violence against civilians. I also see journalists being beaten up. Especially Naggy Williams herself.
He seems desperate. For the third time, the police have deliberately destroyed his camera to silence him I see his lonely resistance. It touches me deeply, and I contact him. Since his camera was destroyed, he has no source of income whatsoever. His protest has made him a target. He is being threatened, and his wife and children no longer dare to live at home. Teggy is on the trail of a very big story, he says, but he has no camera to capture it. I had to think about it for a long time, but I want to bring him a camera. That means that, as a journalist, I am going to intervene in reality.
And I know that is against the code of conduct, but I do it anyway. It is, after all, the ideal way to investigate how a courageous journalist like Natgy survives in a country like Uganda. Uganda has been ruled by President Musvani since 1986. He may have been democratically elected, but according to critical journalists like Netgy, power has gone to his head a bit He deploys the police to eliminate opponents and lets his political cronies plunder the country. Day in the capital Kampala. I still need to get used to the crowds and the poverty I see. Also in the neighborhood where the taggy lives.
He has been home alone for weeks, because his wife Debora and his children have fled the house. They are terrified, because it is no longer safe at home. W Hello and Tegy. Hi. Viel, nice to meet you. Wow. Happy. I was thinking is it wise to give you this because probably broke three cameras break. I know. I know everything. Welcome. This is my home. Wow. This is nice. Yes. Thank you so much. Glad you like it. Yes. It's nice. It's But aren't you afraid that they will break it again? How do you come home and you have to explain Debora happened
again where guilty feelings or maybe a little bit scared for how she will react? Well, she knows the situation around. Well, this is our bedroom. Yeah. And we share the bed with the children. See the bed is big. Five children. Oh, you don't get any sleep. I like to be with my family. And missing has been gone since March. That's when she gave birth. It's a long time. Yeah. Since March up to this time. Did you any moment at all consider what you're doing? I know that people are expecting to hear from me. People are waiting to hear from me as a journalist because I'm the eye and the
mouth to the under privilege to people who don't know but they are supposed to know. So that is a passion of mine. docum that to kill me and my family so this is they 19 of march you not knowing this government enough is enough indicated to that in your presence they know she pregnant yes they knew they told me they already had all my movement this is terrible now we are warning you a serious warning that anytime we are coming for The tagis story hits me raw. This is so bad. I would never want to pay that price for my profession myself. Is Taggy an exception, or are journalists in Uganda fair game? I am putting that question to the only organization that cares about the safety of journalists.
They apparently had to protect themselves as well. How many cases do you get in a year from threatening assaulted harassed journalists? We receive about 100 to 150 cases per year and this range from tax assault, harassment and trapped up charges against journalists. What does it mean for them? This has someh to self-ensorship among the journalist. [sniffs] Some of them have actually abandoned the profession because of the threats.
Some have even been jailed. Some of them at some point are courageous but as the threats continue they pull out. Not like who is threatened several times but he never gives up. If your husband is in so much danger, I understand that as a woman you would want to go into hiding. I would really like to get to know Natek's wife Debora. For that, we have to go to the other side of Kampala. on the moped taxi the boda. Normally you come here with boda. Yes from the road where we branched off. Yeah, up to meet you. Nice to meet you to thank you are to cute. When did you see them for the last time?
H two weeks, three weeks, something like three weeks ago. O judge. Oh, that's difficult. I saw my baby for now one day. Oh ago. For the last time and I miss him already. Yeah, it's really hard. Three weeks, that's a lot. Don't you want to go home? I want to go home. Now he has a camera and that enables him to start working as a journalist again. Thank you so much. You hum. Yes.
I thought maybe eh you wouldn't be that happy about it because it means he will start eh filming risky. going out so I have to pray for him he going out every I have to pray for him for his protection but the problem is not the problem that is where his passion is even if you tell him we can do have passion for you accepted that he won change his mind about that I don't think he can change for sure for what he has gone through he loves it your children eldest how do they think about job the danger that you be killed one Debora's joy has a dark edge. Without a camera, the family simply has no income. The taggy can get back to work and he can't wait. Finally, he can start filming his devastating story. For that, we are driving 300 km to the
west towards the Fortress Kingdom of Toru. That is actually just a province, but with a king and a queen. There are more of them in Uganda, but since decolonization their power has been stripped away until, in recent years, the government began returning the old country to the kingdoms. And what is happening here in Toro is that the kingdom is renting out that land to large tea plantations. Their only obstacle is simply that this land has been inhabited by poor villagers for generations. The people around this area have land rank problems. So as a journalist those are some of the stories I would like to cover to know what the people problems are.
May decision makers come to the people. Mm. In this little village we meet Gerald Kan. He is an activist who tries to help the poor people in this area. Gerald put Natie on the trail of this story. That started here in 2014 when a number of villagers were driven from their homes and land without any compensation by a tea plantation that is steadily encroaching. And now new deportations have been announced yet again. I just wanted to show you how big the plantation is. See just down that valley. Yes. You see down that valley. Yes. And it moves up to that swamp. Those trees you see for the plantation. Okay For the tea plantation.
Yes. Buuse they use it for firewood. So it's part of the tea plantation project. Has there been more reporters like who came here before reporting about the evictions? You know you're talking about powerful individuals, big companies that have a lot of resources and get a lot of support from government power and trying to talk about them you must probably be established or very courageous or sure of your security so I have a strong belief is the first journalist to come here and report on this journalist yes the first journalist report want to do some interview with you And to give you some equipment here to put on. So you going to briefly tell me about this school and has government come out to give you clear of this pup in case this school
is demolished for the plantation. Unfortunately government sides with the company because people being evicted from this piece of land. document of government isn't supporting the community government isn't supporting the school actually silently supporting the company to continue and the last thing will be the school getting off when is the demolishing starting according to government is like I told you government is a silent actor ambush they surprise you point is come find some around 10 evening get you up hand you grandm in the OK. All those stories, they are all so sad. I sympathize with the powerlessness of these people. And they all draw hope from the destitute journalist who is also an outlaw himself.
How neutral must you remain when the injustice is so great? What do you need to finish your story about these evictions? If I have time, I can also approach the kingdom to hear their view. I love to reach the kingdom spokly talk to the queen mother even if I insist that no I would like to talk to the queen mother the king himself they will not allow what do you think about me trying to reach queen mother you think maybe you think maybe of you might Yes, we can. I didn't intend to, but for the second time, I am intervening in Taggy's reality. I am increasingly going to play a role in his story myself. And it feels like the right choice.
Excuse me, where? We are in Fortala on Wednesday. For Teggy, the royal family is off-limits, but for a Western journalist, it is just one phone call. I'll see you Wednesday 4 See you Wednesday. And so we come up with a plan. A horse of trowels. Then in the middle of interview when done also request for an interview politely. Okay And I know they may not hesitate. But there are other suspicious parties involved Good morning. Dey manages to pry the phone number out of the boss of the Kijura T Company. That is the Indian company that has been accused of illegally evicting the villagers.
The boss's name is Asok, and he isn't waiting for journalists. Eventually, Ney does manage to arrange a meeting, but without an interview. The taggy suggests that we give him a hidden microphone and film from a distance, but I sense some hesitation from him. In this country, I think you'd rather not anger powerful people. in the parking lot. I think I've seen you. So how about these people complaining? Which complain? These tenants at Kijura. I was there yesterday with my we don't have any ten us their version that Kijurity company these guys are sending us away and the government not doing
anything like that. We don't have any tenant also. So you are not evicting anyone. No, not at all. Because we they showed us the plantation is surrounding that local area. It's one square m No. It has a school. It has a church. No we don't have that is not my other comp. We are not and it's fun. What? What did he say? He is telling me he's denying everything. The villagers really did tell us that the Kijura T Company is the culprit. But its manager apparently denies everything. That puts us on the wrong track. Especially because the village head was notified of the session by letter. And that letter indeed comes from another company. Very confusing. We ask Gerald to come over, because surely he should know how things stand. The
estate, so where we have a school, is about to be demolished. The place you know, this is the old name that was being used, the old brand. Oh yes, the letter announcing the eviction is signed by a man named Abel Nisabimana. This is not signed by So that means the police is also giving wrong information to me because even the police referred me to Mr. to me you Ah, good. Jealous. You have a great story here. But here in Fortel, Natgy doesn't get any further. He wants to go to Kampala already to sell his story to a TV broadcaster.
He is a freelancer, after all. Or to put it another way, he is completely on his own. Aren't you afraid that you will get in trouble? The T company will send some guys to beat you up anything. Ar you afraid me personally I know I can have ways of escaping ways of hiding ways of escaping from the intimidation but the only worry I have always is for my family thank you see Thank I worry about Natgy. What kind of enemy is he making with this report? To find out, I have to stay in Fortel a little while longer. And that is why I am going to Gerald at his radio studio.
He has come up with something that makes him less vulnerable as a loner. Gerald has united with a group of 5,000 followers to form the Twerwaneo Listeners Club. They have their own radio show and I receive international support. If someone bothers them, they can defend themselves as a group. En tagy is an individual. He becomes more vulnerable and just imagine a situation. ing securitying covering story about very powerful compting people can physical arrests even physical killing you can also be charged of fun charges that never occur and you know if you framed I was attacked light after broadcasting radio programs about was attacked in the middle of the town. So, even in an organization, you are not safe. A few months ago,
Gerald stepped out of his radio studio when he was ambushed by 12 local bodaboda riders who beat him unconscious. The police were not interested in the person who ordered all that violence. But I do want to investigate that precisely because of the danger Natgy might be facing now as well. They do look nice and aggressive. [sniffs] Most likely they could be confrontation they could be abusive most likely by this time they drug risks are high that they are now high on drugs because they use drugs that's different they could be aggressive and attacking it's broad daylight does it mean something because beat you daylight let me think erm hello muta.
Can I ask you something? Do you know TLC radio? Listeners Club. Don't you know it, right? Oh, you don't like it. Can I see your face? Okay You gave me an answer first. Who paid you to beat up my colleague in January? My colleague at TLC radio Twanaku Listeners Club. Who gave you money to beat up? They beat up my colleague in January. You know about that? It is so easy to hire someone here who wants to beat up a journalist. Many people are so poor that they will do anything for money.
The tragic thing is that the Twervaneo Listeners Club was founded precisely to help these kinds of people. Welcome to this wonderc. The Queen of Toro is an evil queen and she seems capable of anything I didn't realize that when I came up with the plan to expose her together with Natgy. This is not the Netherlands. I suddenly feel very naive and irresponsible. What is your problem, then? My problem is that once we have done that interview, we leave. He's coming in with us, eh. Our Trojan horse stunt probably makes her angry by, um, starting to get very critical about that, uh, uh,
about the little country prick. But it will, it will probably, um, get him into trouble as well. But if we do it like this, wouldn't you get in trouble? No, no, no. If accept to talk to me, anymore. But then our fixer Archie gets a phone call. The Queen Mother of Toro lets us know that she has no time to receive us. She cancels. Well, who had fixed the appointment? You. Huh? We spoke to them before. Do you think they have feeling about that's the impression I get that probably subject? I write her a personal email and am then told that she will ask the Prime Minister of her kingdom to speak with us. That is a shame,
but it is better than nothing. De Tegy has managed to get one of Oanda's second-largest TV stations interested in his story. He can start assembling already. In the meantime, I can speak to the editor-in-chief, and he says things I have never heard from an editor-in-chief before meaning that we may choose to a part of it and not the of it if we can do that we drop it we it and the part of it means censored the censored version will yes we don't tell the whole story do you feel guilty about that yeah
from the professional point of yes there is a lot of guild is a lot where you feel the public hasn't got to know the truth the real truth I'm scared of this, I'm editing next door, but it's not yet certain whether his story will actually be broadcast. where you have a story in house that story is likely to reveal certain things that maybe are likely to cause embarrassment to either some official or someone important and then you get this phone call and the phone call will tell you please don't obviously it will not be on paper so you cannot repeat it in a court of law you cannot use it to protect yourself but you just have to make a judgment and say should I go against this advice or should I not just have to make a decision
Surviving next day you mean physically or for your media house as an individual media house because you never you can never tell what can a journalist by profession and I survive on my F. Oh, cute. There is also a reason to be happy. The Taggis woman Debor returned home with the children. Nice to see you here. Nice to see you back home. That makes life a lot more fun, but that doesn't mean the worries are over. Taggy is a lot with us during the day. Is that difficult to be alone with children. Can you manage? I try. people around people have you that you alone Yes.
You know quit this profession I'maving how far can go I told him to profession but for him that's the passion he has that profession I told him even yesterday but why don't you quit journalism me I'm a journalist I want even to upgrade unnegotiable with this profession you can negotiate yeah at least to go to some other country so that at least I can be safe there with my kids but he doesn't want to go to other countries told him live here really you would about my kids he thinks he can protect you but he has no protection he only god only at the end of my visit to UA we get the chance to finish a tekis story in a hotel in the city we have an appointment for an interview with the
prime minister of the kingdom of Toro. Finally, we can unleash our horse of trophies. I bore the man for fifteen minutes with meaningless questions about the economic plans he has for the kingdom. And then I'm supposedly done, and it's a tagy's turn. Honorable prime minister introducing myself again Williams a local journalist but actually helping these people moving around to move around when we reached Kahuna village that is surrounded by theura plantation many people came to us running to us please you can help us air out our voices we are being evicted So the police kingdom must be knowing the truth about the taates and the and they responsible for those people who are crying. And did you do you talk to Ashok the
one who called Ashok? Yes, he Ugandan heed the land and the estate from the kingdom and that one now it doesn't call back to us because the property now does not belong to the kingdom. Yes, you did it. We did it. So we don't have anything to do with the evictions. So don't you have a mechanism of protecting your subjects because those people now belong to kingdom. our office in particular off prim minister here we are peopleing so sin as far as I know nobody has come from kingdom to go anybody so whoever is doing it on his own not from the kingdom that's our Any question?
I'm done, thank you very much. Thank you for your time. Thank you. Everyone is denying the police is investor is denying the kingdom is journalist in Oanda is almost a hopeless task. No matter how brave you are, as a journalist you are unprotected and stand completely alone.
The Taggis story was never broadcast and I never found out exactly why not. But his research has led to the evictions in the villages of the Kingdom of Toro being postponed. The Taggy was threatened a number of times after my visit. His journalistic work does not pay enough to feed his family. Fortunately, he does other things as well.
