Tag Archives: West Nile

Missing Stories: Truth-seeking Processes in Northern Uganda, Policy Brief No. 3

By Roza Freriks and Lino Owor Ogora

JRP-IJR Policy Brief No. 3

This policy brief explores the continued relevance of truth‐seeking as an instrument of transitional justice and peace building in Northern Uganda. Over two years after the dissolution of the Juba Peace Talks in November 2008, several questions remain unanswered regarding how truth‐seeking might promote accountability and reconciliation in Northern Uganda.

From November 2010 to February 2011, the Justice and Reconciliation Project (JRP), in collaboration with the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR), organized a series of consultations with victims of conflict in Northern Uganda, entitled ‘Enhancing Grassroots Involvement in Transitional Justice Debates.’ The consultations, held in the Acholi/Lango, Teso, and West Nile sub‐regions, focused on truth‐telling, traditional justice, reparations and gender justice within the context of Uganda’s transitional justice processes.

This policy brief captures victims’ views on truth‐seeking in Northern Uganda. During the consultations it became evident that victims across Northern Uganda want to understand what exactly took place during the conflict and why. They insist that only after learning the truth will they be able to forgive and reconcile with the perpetrators. This policy brief is intended to inform relevant stakeholders of the need for a truth‐telling process in Uganda, the challenges such a process presents, and propose a way forward for the Ugandan truth‐telling process.

To download the full brief, click here.

Pay Us so We Can Forget: Reparations for Victims and Affected Communities in Northern Uganda, Policy Brief No. 2

By Lindsay McClain and Allan Ngari

JRP-IJR Policy Brief No. 2

After more than two decades of conflict, victims, the Government and civil society in Uganda are grappling with how to implement effective transitional justice (TJ) mechanisms in the country. Informed by widespread consultations with victims across the greater northern region of Uganda, this policy brief focuses specifically on the right to reparations and aims to highlight the most pressing reparations needs identified by victims. The briefing concludes with specific recommendations to concerned parties, namely the imperative need for a national framework to guide reparations processes in Uganda.

From November 2010 to February 2011, the Justice and Reconciliation Project (JRP), in collaboration with the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR), organized a series of consultations with victims of the conflict in Northern Uganda, entitled ‘Enhancing Grassroots Involvement in Transitional Justice Debates.’ The consultations, held in the Acholi/Lango, Teso and West Nile sub‐regions, focused on truth‐telling, traditional justice, reparations and gender justice within the context of Uganda’s transitional justice processes.

The purpose of this briefing is to share the consultations’ findings on reparations and inform stakeholders on specific policy and programming needs which will best assist victims and their families. By highlighting the issues identified by victims and making specific recommendations to concerned parties, unique insight is provided into the right to reparations and the specific reparations mechanisms needed to support efforts for sustainable peace and reconciliation in Northern Uganda.

The title of this policy brief is derived from an emotional response of a participant at the West Nile regional consultation (held 24-25 November 2010) when discussing the topic of reparations. Although compensation forms one part of the reparations process, this phraseology reflects the state of mind of many victims and affected communities in Northern Uganda. They view compensation as a key component of justice.

To download the full brief, click here.

Traditional Justice and War Crimes in Northern Uganda, Policy Brief No. 1

By Lino Owor Ogora and Tim Murithi

JRP-IJR Policy Brief No. 1

This policy brief assesses the continuing relevance of traditional justice in Northern Uganda. Over two years after the dissolution of the Juba peace negotiations in November 2008, several questions continue to remain unanswered regarding how traditional justice mechanisms can be utilized to promote accountability and reconciliation. More specifically, questions persist as to whether traditional justice can be utilized to address war crimes and crimes against humanity. There is still uncertainty in the field as to how traditional approaches can complement the wider national and international processes of transitional justice.

Between November 2010 and February 2011, the Justice and Reconciliation Project (JRP), in collaboration with the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR), organized a series of consultations with victims of conflict in Northern Uganda, entitled ‘Enhancing Grassroots Involvement in Transitional Justice Debates.’ The consultations, held in the Acholi/Lango, Teso and West Nile sub‐regions, focused on truth‐telling, traditional justice, reparations and gender justice within the context of Uganda’ s transitional justice processes. Based on views from grassroots communities, this policy brief notes that traditional mechanisms are still considered by many in Northern Uganda as mechanisms that can promote reconciliation and healing within war‐affected communities. It concludes with a series of recommendations to the Government of Uganda, cultural institutions and the International Criminal Court.

To download the full brief, click here.

Norah's Son Nevil Washibra

Introducing the JRP Community Voices Newsletter

Norah's Son Nevil Washibra
Have you seen this boy? Nevil has been missing since September 2002.

This month, JRP is pleased to introduce a new quarterly newsletter, Community Voices. The newsletter aims to provide a series of brief and simple narratives from victims of conflict in northern Uganda and is compiled by our Community Mobilization department.

This first edition focuses on West Nile and profiles two women who were affected by ambushes on the highway en route to Arua. On September 19, 2002, the LRA attacked a Nile Coach bus travelling northwest from Karuma. Norah’s son, Nevil Washibra, was abducted by the LRA and has not been heard from since. Jane survived death during the same incident and now lives with a scar of bullet fragments, an amputated arm and loss of sight in her left eye. Norah and Jane’s stories are told in their own words. In addition to profiling Jane and Norah, this edition highlights community theatre in the Lukodi community in Gulu district.

We invite victims and survivors to send in their individual or group stories for publication in future editions of the newsletter. For more information, please email info@justiceandreconciliation with “Community Voices” in the subject line.

To view the first edition of Community Voices, please click here.

Norah's Son Nevil Washibra

Community Voices Newsletter, 3rd Quarter 2011

Norah's Son Nevil Washibra
Have you seen this boy? Nevil has been missing since September 2002.

July—September 2011

This newsletter is a beginning of a series of brief and simple narratives from victims of conflict in northern Uganda. As we set out meeting new communities in West Nile, we came across some remarkable individuals who on their own volition demonstrate resilience in their day‐to‐day lives. Yet, what lies behind them is trauma, stigma and a sense of abandonment. Their stories are a testament to what defines post‐conflict transformation in West Nile.

In This Issue

  • Editorial
  • I Want to Know What Has Happened to My Son
  • In Addition to My Disability, I Am HIV+
  • The Tale of a Young Mother

To view the newsletter, click here.

Victims of the conflict in West Nile with JRP after a workshop in October 2010

Memorial Services in Lukodi and Arua

Victims of the conflict in West Nile with JRP after a workshop in October 2010

This week victims from conflict in northern Uganda will be remembering the past and honoring the dead through annual memorial services.

On Thursday, May 19, the community in Lukodi will host memorial prayers at the sub-county headquarters. On Friday, May 20, Arua will host the 1st Annual Memorial Service for victims of conflict in West Nile, organized by the West Nile Kony Rebel War Victims Association.

For more information on both events, contact Sylvia Opinia at +256 471 433008.

Update 21 May 2011: The memorial prayers in West Nile were cancelled by the office of the District Police Commander (DPC) in Arua for security reasons the night before the event, as it allegedly coincided with on-going countrywide demonstrations over rising costs of food and fuel (‘Walk-to-Work’). Another date for this event has yet to be decided and communicated by the district.

Newsletter: Updates from JRP, First Quarter 2011

January—March 2011

In This Issue:

  • 2010 Annual Report Now Available
  • JRP & ICTJ launches joint report on memory and memorialization
  • Norwegian State Secretary and Ambassador visit JRP
  • Advocacy training for West Nile victims
  • TJ consultation with victims in Teso
  • Encouraging community theatre with women in Lukodi
  • Arua community dialogue and radio talk show
  • Story-telling with women’s groups

To view the newsletter, click here

JRP and IJR have embarked on a partnership to collect victims’ views on justice

Enhancing Grassroots Involvement in Transitional Justice Debates

This report, “Enhancing Grassroots Involvement in Transitional Justice Debates: A Report on Consultations held with victims and civil society organizations in West Nile, Acholi, Lango and Teso Sub-regions in Northern Uganda,” is the product of consultations by JRP and the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR).

Between November 2010 and February 2011, the Justice and Reconciliation Project (JRP) in collaboration with the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR) organized a series of consultations with victims of the conflict in northern Uganda. These consultations were entitled “Enhancing grassroots involvement in transitional justice debates” and covered the themes of truth telling, traditional justice, reparations and gender justice.

The consultations were aimed at complementing the countrywide consultations by the Justice, Law and Order Sector (JLOS) on truth seeking and traditional justice. The key findings presented in the report are a synthesis of the victims’ voices on what their views are on truth seeking, traditional justice, reparations and gender justice.  

This report is aimed at informing JLOS and other relevant stakeholders working on issues pertaining to victims in northern Uganda about the needs of these victims, as expressed by the individuals themselves.

To access the full report, click here.

Arua Community Dialogue, 23 March 2011

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In line with JRP’s recent report on memory and an upcoming memorial service for victims in West Nile (May 20), the JRP community mobilization department organized a community dialogue and radio talk show on March 23.

The dialogue aimed to spark debate about the role of memorials and memorialization in West Nile. It generated community ideas on the theme and explored different ways West Nile traditionally remembered events in the past, and how the upcoming memorial service could promote healing and positive remembrance in the region.

Over 100 participants attended this dialogue, held in the WENWA hall in Arua town, including members of the West Nile Kony Rebel War Victims Association (WNKRWVA), civil society organisations, the media, religious leaders and the public. The panellists included the L.C V Vice Chairman of Arua District Local Government (Mr. Sabo Kamilo), a representative of the Agofe of the Lugbara chiefdom (Mr. Godo Onzia John), the chairman of WNKRWVA (Eng. Buti Sam), and CSO representatives from JRP and the Uganda Human Rights Commission.

Following the community dialogue, an interactive radio talk show was hosted on Voice of Life radio to further the discussion on memory and memorialisation with specific reference to West Nile. The panel discussants were Sylvia Opinia (JRP), Eng. Buti Sam (Chairman, WNKRWVA), and Ambassador Joram Jomabuti Ajeani (Elder). The talk show also presented an opportunity for the WNKRWVA to share plans for the upcoming memorial service.