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.
In order to ensure that victim’s voices and interests are at the forefront of contestants’ minds in the upcoming 2011 Ugandan elections, we have designed a comprehensive campaign to put transitional justice on the election agenda.
Side one of our English campaign card. You can download the printable PDF of the English and Luo cards below.
Internationally, transitional justice, or TJ, is increasingly recognized as an important tool in resolving post-conflict instability and inter-communal tensions. However, in many circles, especially among politicians and policy-makers, TJ still remains underestimated and largely misunderstood. Yet, in a country like Uganda, marred by a history of violence and unrest, citizens and leaders informed of the merits of TJ mechanisms are vital to healing the wounds of war and ensuring the sustainability of peace—locally, regionally, and nationally.
At the Justice and Reconciliation Project (JRP), we work with grassroots communities to explore and engage on issues of justice and reconciliation and seek opportunities for war-affected communities to share their thoughts, ideas, and concerns with stakeholders and TJ actors. As Uganda prepares for the upcoming election season and reflects on the leadership of the last five years, we see an immense opportunity for war-affected communities to influence the direction that the justice and reconciliation debate takes in this country, whilst informing aspiring politicians of the political and social value of prioritizing transitional justice.
In order to ensure that victim’s voices and interests are at the forefront of contestants’ minds in the upcoming 2011 Ugandan elections, transitional justice must be prioritized on the election agenda. To do so, war-affected communities must demand that their concerns be addressed and acknowledged by candidates and parties contesting for seats in local and national government.
Moreover, this election needs candidates and parties that commit to sustainable peace in Uganda and that requires not only forward-looking planning and development, but also stakeholders who address past abuses and feelings of injustice. It is our belief, guided by the ideas of the communities in which we work, that votes this election should therefore be in favor of those who will commit themselves once elected to:
Accountability for past abuses: That they support a fair, transparent and balanced national transitional justice system that includes judicial investigations and prosecutions and traditional justice mechanisms, so those responsible for human rights violations are held accountable.
National reconciliation through truth-telling: That they support provisions for truth-telling both at the national and community-levels, so that forgiveness, healing and reconciliation can take place in Uganda.
Reparations for war victims: That they support a national reparations policy to fairly administer reparations to war victims in Uganda. There is need for coordination of all compensation efforts to ensure that reparations schemes across the country are consistent and that victims are consulted throughout the process.
Memorialization: That they commit to undertake symbolic measures to promote remembrance, healing and closure nationally and among their constituencies.
Gender justice: That they support efforts that challenge impunity for sexual and gender-based violence and ensure women and children’s equal access to redress of human rights violations.
Structural reforms: That they support efforts that transform state institutions from instruments of repression and corruption to instruments of public service delivery and integrity, with a transparent and independent military, police and judiciary.
Throughout the region, and unfortunately much of the world, there is still a profound lack of understanding of how transitional justice can be effectively implemented. But by mobilizing war-affected communities to demand their grievances be addressed and acknowledged, we are providing communities and the country at large a space for reflection, debate, and analysis of the issues.
This strategy to encourage voters to hold candidates accountable matches our general approach to community involvement: the most successful activities will engage and empower communities to act for themselves. By reminding voters to ask their candidates where TJ is in their manifestos and then offering six general action points to guide their advocacy, we frame these communities’ arguments into a unifying demand that provides strength in numbers.
Community members during the Mucwini community dialogue
It is mid-morning on a beautiful, sunny Sunday, June 6, 2010. Residents of Mucwini, mostly men, are chatting away, seated in small groups at the trading centre. Meanwhile others, mainly women and children, are returning from church, most likely heading to their homes to prepare meals for the family. It is the season for mangoes, and children seem to be more interested in the seasonal fruits than going straight home to eat the meal prepared by their mothers.
Under the famous mango tree shade in the compound of one of the elders in the area, located just about 20 metres from the sub-county headquarters, two large public address system speakers, mounted by the JRP and Mega FM team, are playing loud local music by Acholi artists and attracting curious passer-by. This mango tree shade is a favourite spot in the area for hosting community events. Today’s gathering is part of a series of community dialogues organised by JRP in collaboration with Mega FM, a popular radio station in Northern Uganda. Later the opinions recorded here will be fittingly aired on Mega FM’s ‘Te-yat’ programme, meaning “under the tree,” a reference to Acholi traditions of discussing important issues collectively under the shade of a tree.
The discussions put a lot of emphasis on the need for all stakeholders to build on the Acholi traditional justice principles that involve compensation, truth-telling and symbolic ceremonies for the dead. Community members also urged each other to find ways to forgive one another and go back to start living as one people so that they can set good precedence for their children.
JRP, in conjunction with radio station Mega Fm, held a community dialogue in Anaka sub-county, Nwoya district, on September 25. The dialogue’s theme, “Casting the Ballot to Address Victimhood: A Call to Put Transitional Justice on the Election Agenda,” correlated with JRP’s special campaign on the same topic.
During the dialogue, the six main points for the campaign were discussed with the community members, and local candidates were asked to make commitments to ensure that TJ issues relevant to their communities are addressed in their manifestos.
The dialogue was attended by more than 100 community members, including the L.C. I and L.C. II chairmen of the area who gave the opening remarks. Rosalba Oywa, permanent member of Mega Fm’s ‘Te-Yat’ programme, and Lindsay McClain, representative from JRP, served as panelists.
JRP’s community mobilisation team organised one community dialogue this month in collaboration with radio station Mega FM. The event, held on August 22 in Atiak sub-county, Amuru district, engaged community members on issues of gender justice. Clips from the dialogue will air on Mega FM’s ‘Te-Yat’ programme on Saturday, September 18, from 10am to midday.
Over 200 community members attended the dialogue. In addition, panel participants included the L.C. V Councillor Gilbert Oulanya, renowned Gulu lawyer Komakech Henry Kilama, civil society representative Rosalba Oywa, and JRP representative Ketty Anyeko.
The major issue that emerged focused on the demand for compensation for the victims of the conflict, with specific reference to the survivors of the 1994 Atiak massacre. This demand for compensation has emerged as one of the major concerns for victims during all of the community dialogues that have been organised by JRP this year.
Specific to gender-related challenges, community members mentioned that many formerly-abducted young females who have remarried are still widely stigmatised, especially by the relatives-in-law. Issues related to victims of male rape (tek-gung) that occurred in Agung were also raised at the dialogue.
The JRP Community Mobilisation team, in conjunction with radio station Mega Fm, held a community dialogue at Abia Primary School in Abia sub-county, Alebtong district, on July 11. Nearly 300 people attended the dialogue, including community members, the Local Council V vice-chairperson, the woman councillor, and representatives from civil society,
The Abia dialogue focused on truth-seeking and truth-telling, and community members stressed the importance of knowing the truth to allow for healing and reconciliation. They also recommended the establishment of a national framework that allows for truth-telling at all levels and is linked to other programmes for victims, such as compensation programmes. During the dialogue, pupils from Abia Primary School presented a debate on whether or not the LRA deserve forgiveness.
JRP held a community dialogue on June 6 in conjunction with Mega Fm, which discussed a broad range of justice issues, including the role of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Uganda’s new War Crimes Division, and TJ mechanisms. Three key themes emerged from the dialogue:
The importance of knowing the truth
The need for compensation
The question of accountability for government perpetrators
Over 200 people were in attendance, and the meeting created an opportunity for the Mucwini community to interact with their local leaders and discuss these important TJ issues.
In this community dialogue report, respondents discuss some of the many problems faced by those living in areas affected by the conflict in northern Uganda. The issues mentioned include the reintegration of formerly-abducted youth, disputes over land amongst those returning from captivity and from displaced persons camps and the collapse of traditional family structures through family breakdown, the phenomenon of child-headed households and a loss of respect for parents and elders.
Traditional spiritual understandings, particularly those related to the burial of people killed in the conflict, are used by many of the respondents to explain the hardships faced by their communities and to formulate possible solutions.
In this community dialogue, respondents voice their views on the challenges affecting their communities in the wake of decades of violent conflict in northern Uganda. The issues discussed include the unexploded ordinance scattered throughout the region, disputes over land ownership amongst those returning from conflict or from displaced persons camps, the negative effects of humanitarian aid and the issues that arise as former LRA attempt to return to civilian society.
The comments of many of the respondents reveal a deep distrust of the Ugandan government as well as a strong faith in traditional spiritual beliefs, often used as a means of making sense of and developing solutions to many of the problems faced by war-affected communities.
