Presentation for NRTJ Audit Briefs

8/2/2019 Presentation for NRTJ Audit Briefs

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NATIONAL RECONCILIATION&

TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE AUDIT

BEYOND JUBA PROJECT

www.beyondjubaproject.org2011 -2012

BRIEF 1 :GULU

DISTRICT
http://www.beyondjubaproject.org/http://www.beyondjubaproject.org/


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NRTJAUDIT2011-2012

Main objectives of theNRTJ

Audit

BRIEF 1 : GULUDISTRICT

To document community perspectives onpost-independence armed conflicts acrossUganda

To identify and assess the outstanding

reconciliation and transitional justice needsrelated to each of these conflicts


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Three field teams comprising four researchers and one videographervisit twenty-one selected districts equally distributed over theNorthern, Southern, Eastern and Central regions in Uganda.

Methodol

ogy

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BRIEF 1 : GuluDistrict

In each district, concerned civil society organisations are contacted.The teams conduct Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with four differentgroups namely adult women, adult men, youth and representatives of

civil society and local government.There are fifteen participants in each FGD and the discussions take thewhole day. FGDs are split into two parts, and follow a simple structure:The morning is spent Looking Back, at conflicts, their causes, theirimpacts, and the stakeholders involved, while the afternoon is forLooking Forward at the possible justice mechanisms that could beused to address the legacies of conflicts identified as well as sending

messages to key persons and institutions.In the course of each FGD, key informants are identified for furtherconsultation. Findings are recorded on flip charts, through near-verbatim note taking, and on audio- and video recorders.

Preliminary Findings are presented initially in these Briefs. The finaloutput will be a Compendium of Conflicts in Uganda, supported by

video documentation


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PART 1: LOOKING BACK

A. Is Uganda at peace? ConflictTimeline(national/regional/district/village)

B. What were theCauses behindthe conflicts youhave identified?C. What were

the Impacts?D. Who were the

Stakeholders?- Victims- Perpetrators- Beneficiaries- Bystanders- Spoilers- Peacebuilders

Focus Group DiscussionGuide

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WELCOME BACK- Reminder of purpose ofsecond half: from lookingback to looking forward

PART 2: LOOKING

FORWARD

A. How does it feel to be talking about thehistory of this country?

B. 1. What does

JUSTICE mean to you?

2. HasJUSTICE beendone to thestakeholders? How doyou think justice canbe done? What wouldyou like to see in the

following processes?

C. What Messages doyou have for key persons

and/or institutions?

TRADITIONALJUSTICE

CHANGES IN LAW / INSTITUTIONS

AMNESTY

PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT MEMORIALIZATION

REPARATIONS

TRUTH-TELLING PROSECUTIONS

RECONCILIATION

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GULU DISTRICTINFO.

Gulu District isperhaps one of the

districts worst affectedby the well-knownconflict involving theLords Resistance Army(LRA) and theGovernment of Uganda(GoU). Over 90% of theentire population was

displaced at the heightof the conflict in 2003.Gulu District isbordered by AmuruDistrict in the West,Kitgum District in theNorth, Lamwo Districtin the North East,

Pader District in theEast, Lira District inSouth East and OyamDistrict in the South. Itis part of Acholiland,homeland of the Luospeaking Acholi. Theconflict, however,

opened Gulu to a largecontingent of otherethnic groups and

MapofUganda showingDistricts

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LOOKING

BACK

Past

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When asked whether Uganda is at peace, the

majority of participants acknowledged therelative peace in northern Uganda citing thesilence of the guns. They all however pointedout that in holistic terms, Uganda is not atpeace given the multiplicity of conflictsexperienced at all levels. Participants expressedrestlessness amongst citizens and lack of peace

of mind. Many victims of the LRA conflicts, theysaid, are still struggling to survive. Severalproblems in society were pointed to as signsand symptoms of absence of peace, such aschildren who are still in captivity, internallydisplaced persons (IDPs) who are unable toreturn, numerous simultaneous strikes and

demonstrations, use of police and tear gas tofight civilians standing up for their rights,general suppression by the government,ongoing recruitment of military personnel by thegovernment as a sign of preparation for war,the Kampala bomb blasts of September 2010,political conflicts, election malpractice, bitingnational inflation, rebellion e.g. the LRAuestion amon st others.

I was born in war period and grew upin wars and up tonow I have neverseen peace, and I

thought that is howlife should be, Ithink it is a lifestyle.- Youth in Awach

Conflicts in Uganda

Please remember that this field brief reflects community perspectives on

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The Lamogi Rebellion (1911):Anti-colonial insurrectionThe Kabaka Crisis (1966). Conflict between theKabaka of Buganda and President Apollo Milton Oboteculminating in an attack on the palace of the King ofBuganda by the Ugandan army. It forced the lateKabaka Fredrick Walugembe Muteesa II into exile andpreceded the abolition of Kingdoms in Uganda.Participants argued that this led to hatred ofnortherners by people in Central Uganda, distorting therelationship between north and south up to now.

The Killing ofBrigadier Okoya(1971) exacerbated

tensions between theAcholi and Langi tribesin Obotes army andwould become part ofthe reason for thecoup against Obote

Amins Coup(1971) and reignof terror from 1971to 1979

The NRA Bush War (1981-1986): Theguerrilla war under the supreme command ofYoweri Museveni caused untold suffering onpeople within the region and beyond. It alsoescalated already existing ethnic tensionsbetween northerners and southerners

The war waged by the Uganda NationalLiberation Front (UNLF) (1979). In 1979,Ugandan freedom fighters backed by the Tanzanian Peoples Defence Force (TPDF)overthrew Amin through a joint militaryoperation

The participants from Gulu District viewed conflicts in their region as anoutcome of long historical patterns traceable in Ugandas turbulent history.

Participants identified a number of episodes of conflict as significant forunderstanding the history of conflict in the country, region, district andvillage, and explained them as follows:

Conflicts Timeline: National

1966

1971

1979

2010

1990

1985

2000

1981

1986

1911

Okello Military Council (1985). General Tito Okello Lutwa overthrew Obotessecond government. He initiated peacetalks in Nairobi with Museveni that

resulted in the Nairobi Peace Agreement(participants referred to this Agreement asthe Nairobi Peace Jokes)

Breaking of Nairobi Peace Jokesand Musevenis takeover (1986):

Museveni violated the Nairobi PeaceAgreement terms and on January 26th1986 the NRA guerrilla fighters capturedpower from Tito Okello Lutwa. Thissparked several insurgencies as rebelgroups emerged in different parts of the

countryPlease remember that this field brief reflects community perspectives on

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One of those rebellions was led by the Uganda Peoples DemocraticArmy (UPDA) (1986-1988). Initially, there was a group of peoplecalled Cilil (Go and tell) who did not support government. Later, the

UPDA commanded by Odong Latek and comprising primarily formerUNLA (Uganda National Liberation Army, the national army under OboteII) soldiers who organized themselves from Sudan, and took up armsagainst the NRA in fear of revenge and extinction by the NRA. Indeed,the NRA, after capturing power from Tito Okello, embarked on a massivecampaign targeting the former government army soldiers, many ofwhom were Acholi. This campaign involved roadblocks, encampment,

arbitrary arrests, torture, indiscriminate killings, rape and the burning ofhouses and property. The conflict between the UPDA and NRA finallyended in a peace agreement signed in Pece on the 3rd of June 1988,signed by Okello Okenno. Former UPDA commander Odong Latek, aswell as other fighters, joined the LRA.

Holy Spirit Movement (1986-1988). This initially mildreligious movement was founded by Alice Auma Lakwena who

claimed she was a healer and messenger of the Holy Spirit,sent to defend Gods Kingdom and defeat the newgovernment run by Museveni. Her charismatic spiritualityattracted many followers. The group was defeated in Jinja in1988, when her spiritual powers had faded. Some of herfighters joined the LRA or rebel groups in Teso.

The looting of cattle in 1987 by Karimojongs incollaboration with the NRA, and to a lesser extent by Lakwenasforces. According to participants the Karamojong cattle raidingwas actively encouraged by the NRA, to remove wealth fromthe Acholi people. NRA soldiers also joined in the looting. Insome cases, promises for later compensation were made. Thelooting inspired many youths to join rebel forces to protect the

family cattle.

The Uganda Peoples Army (UPA) (1987-1992). Meanwhile, formersoldiers of the special forces of the UNLA also formed a rebel group inTeso, led by Peter Otai: the UPA. They opposed Musevenis governmentand fought the Karimojong who had come to raid cattle, with support ofthe local population. The rebellion came to an end through mediation bythe Teso Commission.

1966

1971

2010

1988

1986

1987

1980

Conflicts Timeline: Regional

NRA atrocities, primarily during Operation Fagia and in Bucoro and

Anaka. In 1988, the NRA launched Operation Fagia (Sweeping), led by Gen. SalimSaleh. Soldiers were instructed to kill every living thing, even trees. The operationstarted with an ultimatum to the civilian population in Gulu to leave their villagesand move to camps in Sir Samuel Baker school, Pece in Gulu town and Bungatirawithin 24 hours. Before the 24 hours had elapsed, army soldiers started committingtek gungu, (rape of men), defecation in food, the burning of houses and the killing ofcivilians. In 1991, a battalion with soldiers from Luwero who wanted revenge

committed atrocities in Bucoro, such as burying people and then suffocating themwith chemicals. In the same year, similar atrocities took place in Anaka.Please remember that this field brief reflects community perspectives on

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1992

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The Lords Resistance Army (LRA) (1987 to date).At the time of Lakwenas HSM, Joseph Kony started theLRA. Awach was a hub of LRA activities as it is a vaststretch of land with few settlements. Joseph Kony wasordained in a church in Awach and is said to have

spiritual powers (a fire that cannot be extinguished) . The LRA committed terrible atrocities like abductions,sexual enslavement, mutilations and killings of civilians.

1986

1971

2012

1990

1987

2000

1980

Conflicts Timeline: District


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1988

Opio & Ocen Insurgency (1987-1988): Opio & Ocenwere twins and former UNLA fighters who started their small-scale rebellion as traditional healers based in Dog Abera

forest in Gulu. There were numerous clashes between themand the NRA until their fighters were defeated in CornerKitgum and buried in a mass grave.

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1966

1971

1979

2010

1990

1985

2000

1987

1996

1988Encampment of civilians was one of the most significant characteristics of the

conflict involving the UPDA and later the LRA and the government. In Gulu, it

came in three phases: in 1988 (in Sir Samuel Baker School and Gulu Town), in1990 and finally in 1996, when all people were ordered to leave their villagewithin 48 hours. It was argued people were forced in camps as a military strategyto deny rebels access to food and recruitment, as well a way to protect peoplefrom abductions.

Pigi-ligi War (1988 to date) (war between the spirits ofthe dead and the living) is believed to have started in 1988 inBucoro, Awach Sub County, because of blood of innocentpeople, killed by both the NRA and LRA, that was shed there.If the spirits will not be appeased and get a decent burial,they will continue to cause multiple social problems,nightmares and madness.

Jo Pa Won (1987) (or, the Holy Spirit MovementII) was led by Sevirino Lokoya, the father of thelate Alice Auma Lakwena, when her Holy SpiritMovement was defeated. It was defeated almostimmediately.

Boo Kec: In the context of insurgency in northern Uganda, there were also anumber of armed robbers who were acting under the disguise of rebels, but

without an agenda. Participants referred to them as boo kec (meaninggreens are bitter, in other words, we want to eat meat) Many were formerrebels, home guards or Local Defence Units and for that reason haveweapons;

Domestic violence has increased because

of the war and encampment legacy: men wereidle, alcoholism increased and people are tootraumatized to resolve conflict amicably.

Land Conflicts: In the region, landconflicts have taken over where LRAatrocities stopped and where IDPs startedto return home.

Conflicts Timeline:

Village/Household


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Colonialpolicy ofdivide andrule

Degradation

from self-sufficiencytodependency

An inclinationto fight for

privileges andpower

Moral

degeneration

An inclination

to fight for privileges andpower

Powerstruggle,domination

and oppression

Greed forpower

VengeanceLack of properdemobilisation

and re-integration offormercombatants

Failure tohonourpeaceagreement

s

Gravehumanrights

abuses

Causes &Impacts

auses

Impact

sPlease remember that this field brief reflects community perspectives on

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C f fli t ( t )

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Causes of conflicts (cont.)Failure to honour peace agreements. The Nairobi PeaceAgreement with Tito Lutwa Okello was not honoured byMuseveni.

the failed Nairobitalks caused greatmistrust againstMuseveni and made

peaceful resolution ofconflicts difficult withhim. () Thisaccounts for failure tohonour the Juba PeaceTalks.


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Vengeance. In all FGDs the spirit of revenge was

discussed. For example, Amin revenged on the Acholis andLangis, and Obote revenged on the West Nilers. It was arguedthe spirit of revenge continues in the current government,explaining why the north and other regions are complaining ofmarginalisation;Overstaying in Power. Heads of state usually cling to powerbecause they are afraid to lose economic and political powerand do not want another tribe to take over.

Election malpractices. For example, Museveni went to bushafter the 1980 elections over allegations that Obote rigged theelections. The cycle continues with Besigye accusing Museveniof election malpractice.Superstitious beliefs. Lakwena was believed to havemagical powers and attracted followers who believed theywould not die.Unfair allocation and distribution of resources and jobs.

Women and Children rights. Indiscipline in children can beattributed to the prohibition on caning. Women no longerrespect their husbands and sometimes beat them. When aman beats a woman, however, the police will intervene.

Land conflicts are caused by greed, misinformation byelders to the youth, confusion by politicians, the populationincrease, and the IDP resettlement process.

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Impacts of conflicts

Grave human rights abuses including torture andmassacres by all parties in the conflict.

The above conflicts have had profound impacts not only on the lives andwell-being of people, but also on different institutions and infrastructure.

Some peoplebenefited from thewar, such as LRArelatives who receivedmoney. (Seebeneficiariesbelow.)

Negative

Positive

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Displacement. In 1966 the Kabaka was forced out of thiscountry into exile. Subsequent presidents like Obote, Aminand Tito Lutwa Okello and close associates were alsoforced into exile. In West Nile after the fall of Amin, manysoldiers ran to Sudan. In 1986 after the fall of Tito LutwaOkello, many northerners ran into exile in Sudan toorganize themselves. During the LRA/government conflict,over 2 million people were displaced into camps.Abduction & forceful conscription of children as childsoldiers into rebel forces.Destruction of infrastructure such as schools, roads,hospitals and bridges.Moral degeneration was brought about by camp life.Parents had no privacy and lost control of their children.Eroded culture and loss of good cultural practices thatunite the people.Unexplainable and contagious diseases emerged.Some were brought by soldiers e.g. ebola and hepatitis Band E. The nodding disease was allegedly caused by relieffood.An increase in armed robbery is destabilising peace in

northern Uganda.

Conflict exposed theaffected communityto business since

there was anopportunity for tradein IDP camps.

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Impacts of conflicts (cont.)Increased rate and prevalence of HIV/AIDS.

An example was citedof a Minister asking a judge during acorruption inquiry:Where were youwhen we werefighting?

Negative


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Looting of Acholi cattle by Karamojong and NRA soldiers and theundermining of wealth in Acholi.

Hatred and revenge amongst Acholis because of terrorinflicted by LRA fighters coming from different communities.A strained relationship between the Acholis and the Langis,West Nilers and Itesots due to the LRA violence, further addingto the level of tribalism in Uganda.The President continues to cling to power as a way ofescaping accountability and justice.An inclination to fight for privileges and power, as a result of

unequal allocation and distribution of resources throughout thecountry.Impunity. High-level government officials remain unaccountableand protected by the state because they claim they are Ugandasliberators. This encourages citizens to attain power throughundemocratic means.Dysfunctional families. Conflict caused an increased number ofchild headed families and single parent headed families.A ruined future for children and youths. Because of the war in

the north (the encampment and the running) youth cannot competewith the rest of their countrymen in terms of job placement andopportunities for further education.Degradation from self-sufficiency todependency of people inthe north.Disability and deformation caused by land mines and otherexplosives.Trauma and madness.Rape of both women and men, undermining masculinity andcausing trauma and bitterness.

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STAKEHOLDERS

Victims

Conflicts

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VictimsIn the different conflicts discussed, children andwomen were identified as the most affectedcategories of people.


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Both men and women became victims of rape.Men were raped by government soldiers only, whereaswomen were raped by both government soldiers andLRA soldiers.Other victims included war orphans, the Acholi andLangi tribes, LCs, RCs, community leaders, weak men,persons with disabilities who were unable to escapefrom rebels, fighters, youths who were conscripted forfighting, the business community, priests, abducteesand humanitarian workers (e.g. the Red Cross), elderlywho were burnt in houses, civil servants (like teachersand doctors) and journalists. There was a general consensus that each personfell victim to the different conflicts in Uganda,especially the conflict by the LRA and NRA, althoughdifferent parts of the country were affected in differentways. There are those who are directly affected and

those who are indirectly affected.

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A long list of people, groups, and organizations were raised asperpetrators of violence and other atrocities committed duringthe different conflicts experienced in Uganda. These include:

erpe raors


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Government soldiers in atrocities in e.g. Bucoro and Anaka(including Gen. Salim Saleh, Fred Rwigyema, Paul Kagame andKizza Besigye) Participants lamented that though the governmentarmy had a duty to protect civilians forced into IDP camps, insteadthey were perpetrators of violenceLRA commanders (including Joseph Kony, Onen Kamdulu,Kenneth Banya, Otti Vincent)

Ugandans in Diaspora who supported the LRA

The Government of Sudan who also supported the LRA

Arms dealers

Those who have no heart for forgiveness

NRA and LRA collaborators in the community

The media when spreading false information

At the household level, men and women in marriage are bothperpetrators and victims.

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Much as the wars experienced in northern Uganda weredisastrous and costly, many people seem to have benefited indifferent ways:

Beneficiaries


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Government through foreign aid that was meant to stop the

war but was instead divertedSoldiers who fought in Congo e.g. the late General JamesKazini allegedly came back with a lot of timber and goldlooted from CongoThe peace teams, traditional leaders and lawyers who wereused as legal experts during consultations with Kony

NGOs, their employees and church leaders exploited the warto get money from abroad

(Relatives of) LRA fighters, fund raisers, collaborators andinformers were rewarded

Mediators were paid huge sums of money

The business communities who supplied UPDF/LRA with

uniforms and ammunitions

The media who used the war to sell their papers andmusicians who sold their music

Witch doctors who claimed they could protect you againstbulletsSome UPDF commanders obtained personal benefits out

of the war.

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By-stander

s

Participants provided the following examples ofbystanders in the conflicts:

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Government took too long before they opted to

negotiate peaceThe United Nations and African Union failed to sendpeace keepers to northern Uganda at the time when Konywas committing multiple atrocities in the region

Neighbouring countries of Uganda e.g. Rwanda,Kenya, Sudan and Tanzania

The Uganda Human Rights Commission sawviolations were committed, but took no action and did notopenly condemn the violations

Government officials and donors failed to stop thekilling of protesters and spraying of demonstrators withpink colour in the recent riots

Household neighbours see domestic violence but donothing to stop the fighting

Traditional leaders had the capacity to dialogue withthe fighters of the LRA and the government but kept quietin the initial periodThe international community did not intervene toprevent the LRA from terrorising northern Uganda.

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Spoil

ers

The following were identified by all groups as spoilers;The government sabotaging efforts from international

community to bring peacePresident Museveni in giving an ultimatum to LRAduring peace negotiationsOpportunists who served in different regimes giving ill-advice to ensure positionsPoliticians and their partiesLeaders prioritizing personal over public interestsInternational funders of warThe International Criminal Court (ICC). Its indictmentprevented Kony and his fighters to come out anddenounce rebellionMedia involved in propagandaSudan supporting the LRAParents of LRA fightersGun manufacturersBanyankole herdsmen in Acholiland who provided theNRA with intelligence.


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Participants in each FGD came with long lists of people they consider to have played animportant role in peace building. Among them were the following;The Media: a lot of participants mentioned Radio Freedom and later Mega FM who

featured programmes promoting return by LRA combatants under amnesty, such asDwoke Cen Paco (come back home). This programme is believed to have played animportant role in encouraging defections and escapesMembers of Parliament from Acholi sub-region and northern Uganda generally wereconstantly mentioned as peace builders for standing up for the plight of their peopleTraditional cultural leaders including the Acholi Ker-Kal Kwaro and the paramountchief and other chiefs who risked their lives to talk peaceReligious leaders like Bishop Odama and Ochola and all other members of the AcholiReligious Leaders Peace InitiativeJoseph Kony and Vincent Otti for accepting to negotiate in Juba and withdraw theirfighters from northern UgandaPresident Museveni for keeping the peace talks option open even though he preferredmilitary solutions

Peace mediators like Betty Bigombe and Dr. Riek Machar for offering to mediatebetween Kony and Museveni and restoring relative peace through the cessation ofhostilitiesKonys mother for accepting to travel to Garamba and talk to Kony to come out of thebush which led to confidence buildingGovernment officials like Rugunda for accepting to risk their lives in search of peacetalks with Kony;

Local artists who composed peace songs and contributed to local healingTraditional leaders who facilitated return and reintegration of ex-LRA combatants

PeaceBuilders


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LOOKINGFORWARD

Future

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Talking about conflictsin UgandaWhen asked how participants felt talking about the different

conflicts and their legacies, the majority said it was important to

talk. The following are highlights of what different participantssaid they felt;

I felt its anopportunity to getover my suffering.

It is unpleasant to talkabout the past becauseit brings a hauntingrecollection ofunaddressed past abuses

and violations that makethe people blame pastleaders and their tribesthereby causing moretribal hatred.

Talking about the pastwill help right thewrongs committed inthe past thus pavingway for healing.


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Perceptions ofJusticeWhen asked whether justice has been done to the stakeholders

involved in the conflicts, all participants stressed that this has not

been the case. When asked what justice would mean to them,these were the major responses:

Justice means addressingviolations that have beencommitted and avoiding

repetition.

It meanscompensatingvictims for their

losses and sufferingduring the war.

Itmeansacknowledging

wrongdoingandaskingfor

forgiveness.


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PsychosocialSupport

ReconciliationThe majority of the participantsacknowledged the importance ofsymbolic reparations (e.g. memorialsites). They however emphasised thatsuch memorials should be community-

driven.Participants in all FGDs pointed outthat compensation is key inreparation, but currently doneselectively by authorities in powerwithout a national framework.The participants acknowledged someselective payments and pledges aremade by the President (such as to the

Kampala bomb blasts victims), butargued they were political campaignsmore than proper reparations.The lack of a national reparationspolicy in Uganda retards recovery ofwar affected people.

Transitional JusticeMechanisms

All participants agreed thatreconciliation is a process that shouldinclude truth, acceptance,acknowledgement, apology, asking forforgiveness and forgiveness and

compensation that should includeboth state and non-state actors.According to a male participant,amnesty has created a foundation forreconciliation, as it brought peopleout of the bush. Amnesty can alsogive people a reconciliatory mood.Reconciliation is not possible in a

climate of fear.It was argued that grass root levelleaders are in a better position thanGovernment to reconcile two partieson the ground


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Truth

Telling

M

emoriali

zation

On memory andmemorialization, themajority of survivors ofviolence in Guluacknowledged the power ofmemory and advocated fororganized mechanisms thatwould enable them toremember and livepositively with the reality ofpast violent experiences.They looked at themselvesas living memories of thepeople brutally and

innocently killed. Theysuggested the following:Building monumentsMemorial sitesOrganizing annualmemorial activities such asprayers which they saidwould help them live

positively with theoffensive memories as they

Truth-telling was consideredindispensable for healing andreconciliation. Some suggestedtruth-telling begin at communitylevel, others focussed on anational-level Truth andReconciliation Commission. Inany case, some methods for

truth-telling were regarded asinappropriate and potentiallydangerous to the involvedindividuals and their close onesas long as they lack protectionmechanisms.Whereas participants treasuredthe need for nationalreconciliation, the majority

valued reconciliation and truth-telling more at a communitylevel with traditional leaders atthe centre of the process. Thiscould then inspire a discussionon national reconciliation inUganda.The need for nationalreconciliation was emphasized

by civil society and localgovernment representatives.

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Inst

ituti

onal

Ref o

rm

s

Prosec

u

t

ion

Most participants expresseddisappointment in prosecutionprocesses in Uganda. Somewondered why formal courtprocess and the judicial systemseem to favour the rich and thosein power. Across all FGDs, participants

acknowledged developments withregards to prosecution in Uganda,especially the recent Kwoyelo trialand indictment of top LRAcommanders by the ICC. At thesame time they were wonderingwhy state actors who perpetratedor participated in committingatrocities/violence are notprosecuted and why grave human

rights abuses and violationsbefore 1986 are not being dealtwith in a legal mannerThere was a general feeling thatfear for accepting responsibilityfor actions/wrongs committed inUganda inspires perpetrators tolie and take advantage of theformal justice systemThe participants expressed

mistrust of formal justiceprocesses and institutions. They



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Participants in all FGDsstressed that the differentconflicts have affected and(further) weakened manyinstitutions in Uganda.This is one reason why

institutions in Ugandaneed a series of reforms tomake them relevant,functional and beneficial tothe citizens.The institutions mostfrequently named as inneed of reforms were the

police, the army and thejudiciary.

It was argued Parliamentshould be independent ofexternal interference.Some participants alsosuggested that the headsof such institution must bevetted where necessary bythe ublic.

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AmnestyTraditional justice was considered key toreturn and reintegration in northernUganda. Many pointed out that localrituals like mato oput arecomplementary to formal justicesystems:Participants suggested that formal

justice processes should borrow conflictsensitive principles from local justicepractices such as mato oput, as suchpractices are rich and widely acceptedand trusted;The majority viewed traditional justiceprocesses as more appropriate formending broken relationships andaddressing conflicts and their aftermath.Mato oput was often quoted as asignificant way to do justice related tokillings that occurred in the war. It wasalso stated, however, that the lack ofresources constitutes a problem.

Traditional Justice

Concern was expressed with regards to thefact that psychosocial issues, especially posttraumatic reactions, are daunting in GuluDistrict, yet there are no governmentalrehabilitation centres and programs to dealwith post-conflict traumas. The participantssaid:

Most of the services are inadequate and areprovided by CSOs that are rapidly closingtheir programs;The majority of participants expressedbitterness over losses incurred during theviolence. They lamented that governmentdoes not seem to consider an agenda forremedial actions. They claimed this negativelyaffects the healing process and ability of theaffected people to live peacefully with one

another and support and appreciate othergovernment programs. Amnesty contributesto reconciliation as rebels are encouraged toleave the bush and communities are put in areconciliatory mood. However, after amnestyis granted, rebels should come down to thecommunity (approaching the Rwot Mo)seeking for cleansing, forgiveness andintegration for justice to be done.


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Messages to

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Messages toLeaders/InstitutionsParticipants were invited to direct messages to any person or institution with regards

to peace and justice. Nearly all focussed on ensuring that conflict does not reoccur inUganda, and to have one united Uganda for a peaceful nation. Below are some of the

key messages:Stop making emptypromises aboutcompensation of warvictims as it isintensifying anger andnegative memoriesabout the past. Youshould compensate LRAvictims and come up

with special programs tosupport war orphans andwidows.

Monitor/follow uprecovery projectsmeant to supportwar affectedcommunities, sothat it benefitsthe affected

community.

There should be noelection in Ugandabecause thePresident, unlike localleaders, isunchangeablethrough election.

Asa

president,[y

ou]

shouldbe

flexible and

accommodate

views

from

allstakeholde

r; increase

recruitment

ofmedical

personnelso that they are

available in health centres

andteachers and address

remuneration

across

sectors.

Don

otint

erfere

inPa

rliame

nt

and

the

Judici

ary.

Adopt

peacefu

l

ways

toreso

lve

conflict

.

Parliament: Becomeempowered to handle andmanage your own affairswithout interference sayfrom the President.


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Acknowledge

ments The research team comprised of Veve Richard, Wamimbi Jimmy, Aliobe Joan, Opiny Shafic and Okot Bernard Kasozi asteam leader.

This briefing note on which this presentation is based waswritten by Okot Benard Kasozi with valuable input fromAnnelieke van de Wiel and Stephen Oola.

Presentation prepared by Opiny Shaffic, with inputs from ChrisDolan and edits by Angella Nabwowe.

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Watch this space for Brief 2:Adjumani district

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Transcript of Presentation for NRTJ Audit Briefs