Zuva unveils photo exhibit of strife in Uganda
by Jim Crawford

SCOTTSDALE – Since 1986, the people of northern Uganda have endured one of the world’s most brutal campaigns of terror. The rebel insurgency waged by the Lord’s Resistance Army  has led to the displacement of as many as 1.7 million people, the destruction of countless homes and livelihoods, and tens of thousands of innocent children have been abducted into forced servitude.

Zuva Gallery will introduce “Africa: As It Is,” an on‑going series of programs designed to bring community awareness to some of the current issues facing many African countries.

Zuva is opening an exhibition of 40 photographs from northern Uganda titled “The Human Tragedy of Northern Uganda.”

Photojournalist Rick D’Elia shot many of the images in the exhibition and has traveled to Uganda multiple times.

“I had been to Africa before with different humanitarian organizations,” D’Elia said. “But to me this was not the way to really see Africa. I have a friend who is a photojournalist who had been to Uganda and she suggested I go there to see for myself. She really lit a fire, and I knew I had to go.

“There are a lot of bad things to see, but there are a lot of good things, too,” he said. “Unfortunately, the news media usually only show the bad side, only when it is really bad.”

The photographs are on loan from the U.S. State Department and were commissioned by the United States Embassy in Kampala, Uganda.

“The project was very worthwhile,” D’Elia said. “I thought ‘I have to show it.’ I have a passion to tell these stories–especially the underreported stories. When I went I knew very little about the strife in the country. I had to be there to learn first hand and get involved.. It only makes the news when something really big happens, but it’s been 20 or more years of hardship for those people.”

This exhibition presents a glimpse of some of the human stories associated with this conflict in the hope that the near future will yield an end to the misery in which many in northern Uganda live and free the next generation from the shadow of fear and violence, reads a statement form the U.S. Embassy, Kampala, Uganda, January 2005.

“Right now there is a cease fire, an uneasy peace,” D’Elia said. “I’ve seen some difference in the country. Out of the 1.7 million people in the camps, about 800,000 have gone back to their homes. Many of the people have gotten old in the camps and memories have faded. There are disputes over property lines because there are no records after all that time. The wells are covered. Health and sanitation issues continue to be a problem. Still, there seems like hope.”

The exhibit will be on display in the Zuva Gallery Special Exhibition Space at el Pedregal Shops at The Boulders Resort through Oct. 31.

An evening reception will begin with a brief talk and slide show by D’Elia.

“We’ve been in the community for almost 12 years,” Lisa Paulick, exhibition coordinator, said. “We are starting this series to try and focus awareness within the community on the issues and problems in Africa. We want to try and help people get involved and maybe make a difference.”

In 2003 and 2004, D’Elia spent a year working in Uganda with The Monitor, the national independent daily newspaper. During that time he also worked with development organizations there to document projects in health and education. He  has earned a number of awards in Arizona photojournalism competitions as well as top placings in national competition. His talk will be in the Tohono Center at el Pedregal Shops at The Boulders Resort.

The film “Uganda Rising” will also be shown throughout the exhibition. Narrated by Academy Award winner Kevin Spacey, the film offers a comprehensive overview of the situation in northern Uganda.

Undoing the ravages of 20 years of war and brutality will take a long time.

“I’m finding hope now,” D’Elia said. “It’s very guarded, but it’s hope.”

Zuva gallery is located at 34505 N. Scottsdale Road., Suite J7 in Scottsdale.

For information call (480) 488‑6000, or visit  zuvagallery.com.