ELCA World Hunger

Dear All,

We write to discuss with you a recent video that has been circling the internet. Two weeks ago, Invisible Children, released a short 30-minute film about Joseph Kony, the leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) that formed inNorthern Uganda over 30 years ago. Despite personal views of the movie and the organization, Invisible Children, LWF Uganda appreciates the publicity this video has provided to post-conflict region ofNorthern Uganda. Unfortunately, many agencies have pulled out of this region as it no longer consider a conflict zone and have moved their resources elsewhere but this movie once again brings to the world’s attention how horrible this conflict is and how it has affected the people of Northern Uganda.

LWF has been operating in this region for years and has focused its support on helping these communities rebuild their lives after the conflict they endured from the LRA. The movie advocates for justice to be brought to Joseph Kony by the International Criminal Court. While we believe that justice is needed, LWF’s main concern is the affected community members.

Thanks to your support we have been able to provide livelihood support to families as they have resettled back to their ancestral homes.  The whereabouts of Kony remain unknown and debates have been sparked about the appropriate actions needed to ‘end’ this conflict. Yet certainty lies in the fact that Kony’s victims are still struggling to rebuild their lives and livelihood support is needed. On behalf of our community members in Kitgum, Lamwo, Pader and Agago district, we thank you for the support you have given us. We hope that when the international attention fades your commitment will remain.

Just in case you have not see it:

Click here to view KONY 2012 Video

A New York Time’s Article that best captures LWF – Uganda’s views on the issue: Kony’s Victims and the Kony 2012 Video

Thanks,

Jesse Kamstra

Country Representative

Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Uganda