Residents of Gulu are expressing fear that the publicity generated by the Kony 2012 video may re-ignite violence in Acholi sub region.
Kony 2012 is a 30-minute video produced by Invisible Children an American charity organisation. The video details atrocities committed by Joseph Kony led Lord’s Resistance Army rebels in northern Uganda.
The movie which was released last month and posted on social media attracted and was viewed by a worldwide audience of more than 43 million people in only two days of its release.
The movie depicting some of the worst atrocities committed by LRA rebels, however, drew a backlash from critics who accuse the organization of creating an impression that Kony was still in Northern Uganda. Others accused Invisible Children of spending a small proportion of donation to do its work in Africa.
The organization is further accused of dangerously simplifying the situation in northern Uganda because the LRA rebels have for years not operated in the area.
But in Gulu, the greatest fear for most people is that the movie may re-ignite violence.
The locals say depicting the atrocities several years after they were committed may affect the reconciliation process.
Anthony Ojok, a resident of Pecce in Gulu explains that the victims of the atrocities are living together with the perpetrators and the horrific scenes in the movie are likely to make the victims think of carrying out revenge.
According to Ojok, Invisible Children should have focused on the atrocities that the LRA are now committing in Central African Republic, Southern Sudan and Chad to depict the true story of LRA rebels.
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Several people interviewed on the streets echoed the same sentiments on the film. They fault Invisible Children for making a movie using pictures taken several years back. Some claimed that the organisation is using the children for selfish gains.
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Uganda Radio Network could not get a comment from Invisible Children’s Gulu office.
