Ugandan Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi launched Saturday an online response to a viral campaign to arrest rebel commander Joseph Kony to counter the “false impression” that the country is in conflict. In a video broadcast on YouTube, and in a flurry of messages posted on Twitter, Mbabazi invited 20 celebrities including Hollywood or music stars such as Angelina Jolie, George Clooney, Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga and Rihanna. “As PM (Prime Minister) of Uganda, I appreciate your interest and invite you to visit. We have peace,stability and great people” he wrote in a tweet to celebrities, using the #KonyisntinUganda. The video, “Kony 2012”, by US advocacy group Invisible Children, has been viewed by over 80 million people worldwide since it was released online last week, with a string of celebrities tweeting links to the emotional film. “It is particularly welcome to see so many young people uniting across barriers of nation, race, religion and culture to take a stand for justice, I salute you and I thank you,” Mbabazi said in the video. “I extend the invitation not just to the 20 celebrities, but to you all — come and see Uganda for yourself — you will find a very different place to that portrayed by Invisible Children,” he added.
