By Sharon Tibenda

19^th March 2012:

Ugandan women pressure groups have condemned the production of a film on militia leader Joseph Kony and his Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), saying it brings back bad memories to the militia’s victims.

The film Kony2012, created by the US organization Invisible Children, depicts the atrocities of the LRA in Uganda, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Central African Republic, and has been distributed worldwide through the YouTube website over the past few months.

Speaking to journalists in Kampala last Saturday, the activists said Kony2012, which has been watched by over 100 million people worldwide, will traumatize LRA survivors.  “The film is demeaning the efforts of civil society organizations in Uganda, which is not true. We have done a lot in helping the war victims to resettle,” the activists said.

Ruth Ojiambo of Isis-Women’s International Cross-Cultural Exchange said, “…while the idea of this campaign against the LRA leader is welcome, the steam it has created overshadows the real concerns of the sufferers and survivors of this conflict in Uganda.”

Leah Chipepa, the Executive Director of Akina Mama Wa Africa, said “Uganda [is] peaceful. Therefore, the campaigners of popular video should focus on countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, and South Sudan where Kony and his men still abduct children.”

The 30-minute film has caused uproar among Kony victims in northern Uganda.  A public screening of the film was recently stopped in Lira after locals threatened violence.  END.  Please login to www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories and anytime mid-week for our news updates.