Peace Journalism and Positive Media as vital tools in transformative dialogue in Uganda.

What is the role of peace journalisms and transformative media in laying the foundation for peace making? This blog provides reflections on this question from acclaimed Ugandan peace journalist. She argues that there is a vital need to shift away from only focusing on ‘war reporting’ that reproduces narratives of conflict, toward peace journalism, that encourages dialogue between antagonistic groups.

The two and half decades of insurgency led by Joseph Kony in Northern Uganda, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) saw widespread and extreme human rights violations amongst the Acholi population and neighbouring communities. Thousands were killed, 1.8 million displaced and over 10,000 children were abducted by the LRA. Although the psychological, physical and infrastructural scars of war remain, acclaimed Ugandan peace journalist Gloria Laker Aciro Adiiki highlights how two decades of reconstruction has returned the region to a “beautiful community with warm and hardworking people.” This blog draws on Gloria’s experience as a journalist during the conflict and her reflection on the role of peace journalism in laying the groundwork for inclusive dialogue during the Ugandan peace process.

Over the years of conflict, the Ugandan military carried out multiple operations aimed at overpowering the LRA. Numerous rounds of peace talks failed, while efforts to bring an end to the conflict continued via community representatives, religious leaders, women and elders. A turning point came in the initiation of the Juba talks in 2006 when President Musevani offered a controversial amnesty to combatants of the LRA as part of a deal to secure a ceasefire. However, for Gloria, she realised long before the Juba talks that part of the problem was the abundance of misinformation that perpetuated divisions. As such, she saw a dire need to shift the media focus towards a more balanced and peace orientated form of reporting. She saw the media as a powerful tool with the potential to reach out to affected communities and the rebels themselves, to better create confidence in peace. In this way she became focused on peace journalism and transformative media as a way of supporting the peace process.

Promoting dialogue at the London ‘Kacoke Madit’ peace conference 1998

The Kacoke Madit initiative (translated as ‘a big meeting’) was formed by Acholi diaspora as a way of raising awareness of the conflict and promoting inclusive dialogue between all parties including civil society representatives. Major Kacoke Madit meetings were held in London in 1997 and 1998, and in Nairobi in 2000. These conferences were intended to be an open forum for all sides of the conflict. This included Acholi people and community leaders, parliamentarians, traditional and religious leaders, government officials, representatives of the LRM/A, and members of the Acholi diaspora. As a peace journalist, Gloria was determined to cover the 1998 conference. She wanted to provide a clear picture of the realities of conflict to the delegates, and ensure all voices were included in the reporting on the conference.

Initially, and as a young woman, her presence as a journalist was not taken seriously. Rebel supporters were particularly reluctant to have her cover the conference. They didn’t trust Ugandan journalists generally, and were suspicious of Gloria’s motives. As Gloria notes,

“They called us President Museveni’s spies or government collaborators. Indeed, in one incident two rebel delegates refused to share a lift with me saying my camera bag could be loaded with a bomb given to me by President Museveni.”

“Maybe if you show the rebel team and their supporters some of the pictures I have brought, they will get to know that there is war at home and believe that we are here to inform people of the situation.”

On the first day of the conference some rebel delegates complained about the presence of Ugandan journalists to Chairman, Dr. Patrick Oguru Otto (RIP). However, Gloria was determined to share some photographs of the living conditions of local people and IDP camps in Northern Uganda, which she had brought with her. When the delegates left the room for the morning break she approached Dr Oguru and told him,

“look, maybe if you show the rebel team and their supporters some of the pictures I have brought, they will get to know that there is war at home and believe that we are here to inform people of the situation”

Dr Oguru agreed and proceeded to enlarge the pictures. He had them placed on the conference room walls with captions describing the content. The images included one of Pabbo IDP camp showing the dire living conditions of its inhabitants. Others were of those affected by landmine blasts and other atrocities. When the delegates returned from their break, they had to pass by this powerful exhibition. After viewing the images the diaspora communities began to realise the extent of LRA atrocities that where being inflicted on the population. As a result, Gloria and her colleagues were permitted to cover the conference, ensuring that all voices had space for inclusion in their reporting.

Gloria notes that “Before the conference, Ugandans in the diaspora were brainwashed with negative propaganda that indicated the rebellion was a mere creation by the Ugandan government. Our balanced coverage that drew local and international attention, encouraged the diaspora community to join forces in pursuing peace.”

Shifting from war reporting to reporting on visons of peace.

In times of conflict, it is easy to default reporting only on the atrocities of war. After growing tired of only reporting on violence, Gloria and her colleagues made a conscious decision to use whatever media tools were available to tell alternative stories. Stories that were not laden with messages that reproduce conflict. As such they shifted from writing one-sided stories of violence, to disseminating stories that can create room for peace, or stories that can bring conflicting parties to dialogue. For example, they began reporting more on local peace initiatives, ensuring the inclusion of women’s voices and highlighting the vital work of women in mediating for peace.

*Gloria covering local peacebuilding meeting in Pabbo IDP camp, Amuru district, Northern Uganda. Photo by Rachel Jones.*

Gloria and her colleagues were also conscious of the need to include the rebel position in their reporting. However, to do this they needed to be meticulous about ensuring the veracity of information and sources. They were aware of spokespersons claiming to represent specific groups and spreading “fake news”, seeking to gain financially from it. Instead, she notes, “we wanted to give a clear, clean voice in the direction of peace”. As she explains, “In peace journalism we maintain balance and accuracy of information, but also choose our words carefully so that it encourages conflicting parties to participate at the negotiating table.”

Radio as a tool for inclusive discussion.

As in many hard-to-reach areas, and in the absence of social media, radio is a vital tool for communication across communities. In the Ugandan peace process, the radio played an important role in promoting reconciliation and creating channels for dialogue on the shape of peace. ‘Radio Freedom’ was the first of its kind in East and Central Africa. Although it was created by the Ugandan army with support from the government, it recruited experienced community journalists. The station broadcast Public Information Announcements and was instrumental in transmitting information to the rebels about the Presidential amnesty, which led to over 3,000 ex-combatants responding and returning home. Radio programs like Dwog Paco, “come back home”, a multi program radio show, hosted by celebrated radio personality Mr. Lacambel Wod Ogena, was particularly effective.

“The radio is a big powerful tool in peace media, particularly where there are opportunities for people to call in to talk shows and express their views on the shape of peace”

As Gloria explains, “The ostentatious host, Mr. Lacambel, had a unique and lively connection with displaced communities, including the rebels. He used music during his ‘Aguma’ night show, where locals requested and dedicated songs. These songs stimulated healing and laid the foundation for dialogues. They facilitated connections between people and stimulated a sense of hope around the peace process.” Other programs like ‘Kabake’ (community discussions), hosted by senior journalist, Ms. Innocent Aloyo, continue to play an important role in encouraging community discussions on topics related to recovery. As such Gloria notes how, “the radio is a big powerful tool in peace media, particularly where there are opportunities for people to call in to talk shows and express their views on the shape of peace, as well as transmitting music and peace songs that encourage an atmosphere of reconciliation.”

As part of her role in promoting peace Gloria was involved in the development of Peace Clubs. These were originally created to monitor election violence but have remained and augmented as a way of monitoring tensions. These are made up of elders, media representatives, youth representatives, religious leaders and representatives of local institutions. They continue to play a role in monitoring negative media. For example, if hate speech is heard on the radio, peace club members can report this to the media representative and have it removed or altered.

In our conversations with Gloria, she makes the connection between peace journalism and inclusive dialogue by engaging the notion of ‘transformative media’ as an important tool in creating and maintaining the conditions for inclusive and transformative dialogue.

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