Ugandans react to Kony 2012

Ugandans have a variety of mixed—and fascinating—opinions about Kony 2012. (For my view, see previous blog entry below). Here is what some of my Ugandan friends and colleagues are saying:

“About Kony 2012, it will be every Ugandan's Joy to have him brought to book or Killed. What has made many Ugandans irate about this situation, me inclusive is the timing. For 20 years Kony committed atrocities and not a single campaign of this nature was launched, six years later when the man is admiring a mouse hole for a home, a 'savior' comes. The video has already had psychological effects on people especially from the north, where they can’t help but remember those days and situations. Instead of us focusing on reconstruction, we are invoking animosity among a fragile population. Just imagine the LRA returnees and their neighbors. Steve, I welcome all efforts towards scooping Kony out of wherever he is hiding and that will bring lasting nightmare free sleep but in doing so, we need respect the plight of the people who are enjoying promising peace development and psychological stability in Northern Uganda. …I only wish it came out at least 15 years ago.” –Director, development NGO

“The invisible children and film makers need to think peace in their scripts They should re-edit the language used, and why wear Kony T-shirts at the screening? To me the video bring sad memories of the war. –Director, media NGO
“In my opinion, such videos are uncalled for at this time; this is a healing time for Northern Uganda and such videos compares to putting salt on a fresh wound. Its sensational nature thus does not guarantee it any accuracy. It miscommunicates that the war is still raging when it is not.”--Journalist

“The Kony 2012 project is. It comes like Obama's 100 troops-too late really. A peace journalist can cover this but in a different way. I said northern Uganda is in a healing process and this means there are a lot of reintegration and rehabilitation activities taking place. This is what a peace journalist should focus on now. After all the bad things people have or the world has seen during the over decades LRA war in Northern Uganda, people now will love to hear and see good things after the bad ones.” –Journalist, Gulu

“As a peace journalist, I think the work was not done professionally, it was not necessary at the moment, and lacks focus because the region which is ravaging from the war is now relatively peaceful and so many developmental activities are taking place…As peace journalist, I think Invisible Children in their campaign (should) would have brought in the aspect of post war recovery activities focusing at the current situation while giving the reflection of the war time.

This is the program in the recovery drive which would include how much is needed to address the wounds of the war which left so many orphans widows/widowers, The Invisible children would also include in the video what good things are needed to help the victims of war and the current activities they are doing in regards to rehabilitation of the post war areas like in northern and DR Congo. I think the IC would have hired the expertise of local Journalists in the land to document that campaign; it would have been done in a professional way. I think the issue of Kony should be left to people of Uganda/Northern Uganda other than throwing trash for people to view across the globe.” --Journalist, Northern Uganda

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