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From July 13-July 20, JRP staff guest lectured to students from the University of Tennessee as part of the Gulu Study and Service Abroad Program, or GSSAP. The students were completing a short course on peacebuilding and conflict resolution in northern Uganda. JRP team leaders spoke about gender justice, community mobilization, traditional justice, transitional justice and reintegration.
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On July 17, JRP participated in Uganda’s celebrations for International Justice Day in Gulu, in collaboration with Advocats Sans Frontieres, the International Criminal Court, and the Uganda Coalition for the International Criminal Court. JRP’s Lino Owor Ogora made remarks on behalf of JRP.
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Finally, after several months of delays and postponements, the long awaited trial of Col. Thomas Kwoyelo kicked off in the International Crimes Division (ICD), which held its first landmark session in the High Court of Gulu. The much anticipated trial attracted visitors from all over the globe, in addition to many of the local nationals who flocked the High Court and crammed it to capacity. In attendance were civil society organizations, members of the district local government, the media, victims and the public at large. The trial started with an inspection of the guard of honour by Hon. Justice Akiiki Kiiza, the head of the ICD. Other Judges in attendance were Hon. Justice Elizabeth Ibanda Nahamya, Hon. Justice Alphonse Owiny Dollo, in addition to the Principal Judge Hon. Justice Yorokamu Bamwine. The prosecution team was led by state attorney Joan Kagezi and backed by Mr. George William Byansi and Mr. Anguzu Lino. The defence was led by Mr. Alaka Caleb, and his colleague Mr. Onyango John Francis.
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On Wednesday, 25th May 2011, a week after the annual Lukodi massacre memorial day, JRP held a community launch at Lukodi Market, Lukodi village, Bungatira sub-county, Gulu district, for its latest report, The Lukodi Massacre: 19th May 2004.
The report reconstructs a narrative of the Lukodi massacre and the major events that unfolded on May 19, 2004. It came about as a response to community leaders in Lukodi asking for the documentation of their conflict experiences for purpose of acknowledgement and preserving memory. The report contains key recommendations to the Government of Uganda and other stakeholders, in line with the people of Lukodi — calling for reparations, the sharing of findings of the official investigation carried out after the massacre, and support for community initiatives, including a truth-telling process in which the community, the Government and LRA take part.
To read the full report, click here.
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On Friday, May 20, 2011, the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ), the Justice and Reconciliation Project (JRP), and the Uganda Victims Foundation (UVF), organized a one-day dialogue between representatives of the Justice, Law and Order Sector (JLOS) and civil society from northern Uganda. The event was held in Lira Town and was attended by 42 representatives, including His Worship Tadeo Asiimwe—Registrar of the War Crimes Division—and Ms. Rachel Odoi-Musoke—of the JLOS Secretariat.
The dialogue provided an opportunity for the two JLOS representatives to share updates and developments on TJ in Uganda, and more specifically the work of the JLOS Transitional Justice Working Group and the War Crimes Division (WCD), soon to be renamed the International Crimes Division (ICD). It also provided space for the various civil society representatives to ask questions and share comments on the processes involved and how these could impact their communities.
This event coincided with national community consultations by JLOS to gain perspectives on truth-seeking, traditional justice and reparations, and followed a consultative meeting organized by ICTJ and JRP on April 21st in Gulu with civil society on an outreach strategy for the WCD (report available upon request).
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From May 10-11, JRP launched its latest report, The Mukura Massacre of 1989, in Kumi town and Mukura trading centre, respectively.
On July 11, 1989, the 106th battalion of the National Resistance Army (NRA) allegedly rounded up 300 men from Mukura, a small village in eastern Uganda, and surrounding areas, and incarcerated some of them in train wagon number C521083. These men were suspected of being rebel collaborators against the NRA regime, but there is little evidence to suggest that most of them were anything other than innocent civilians. Trapped in the crowded train wagon, trying not to trample on one another, the men struggled to breathe, and by the time they were released, after more than four hours, sixty-nine of them had suffocated to death.
Twenty-two years later, JRP reconstructs an account of what took place using narratives from survivors, in order to bring the concerns of victims to the attention of the Government of Uganda and other stakeholders. This report aims to improve the implementation of future post-conflict transitional justice (TJ) initiatives in Uganda and elsewhere through analysis and recommendations for victims’ involvement in TJ processes.
To download the report, click here.
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On April 21, JRP and ICTJ held a one-day consultative meeting organized by the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) and the Justice and Reconciliation Project (JRP) on outreach for the first war crimes cases before Uganda’s War Crimes Division (WCD).
The objectives of the meeting were to:
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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.
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On March 4, JRP and our partners at the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) launched a new joint report titled, We Can’t Be Sure Who Killed Us: Memory and Memorialization in Post-Conflict Northern Uganda.
The event, held at Gulu’s Churchill Courts Hotel, was attended by more than 60 members of civil society and representatives from massacre survivor associations in West Nile, Teso, Acholi and Lango.
The report examines the role memorials have played in Uganda’s transitional justice (TJ) process. Addressed to community members, conflict survivors, policymakers, and donors, it reviews existing memorials and offers recommendations to those seeking to initiate new memorial activities. It is based on research conducted in the Acholi and Lango sub-regions, yet reveals post-war insights into memory and memorialization relevant to the greater North and any society in transition.
To view this report, click here.
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From February 1-3, JRP’s Community Mobilization and Documentation teams organized an advocacy training workshop for members of the West Nile Kony Rebel War Victims Association (WNKRWVA) in Jershem Hotel in Arua town. The training included participants from Arua, Nebbi, Zombo, Adjumani, Moyo, Yumbe, Koboko and Maracha districts.
On February 4, the Association put the skills obtained in the training to good use. In a meeting facilitated by JRP, WNKRWVA met with local leaders to create awareness about the challenges they are undergoing in pursuing compensation and reparations from the Government of Uganda for atrocities they suffered throughout the conflict.
A statement written by JRP in consultation with the Association was presented to local leaders by the victims. Local leaders present included the Deputy LCV of Arua, the Deputy LCV of Nebbi, and candidates who were standing for elective positions in Arua.
Since this meeting, the group has continued to seek avenues to advance their advocacy demands to their leaders. They are currently undergoing registration of their members in a bid to solidify their demand for reparations. They have opened official files in the office of the LCV and the DISO in Arua district to update local government about their activities and maintain a conducive working relationship.